What is the Impact Player Rule?
Impact Player Rule was Introduced first by Cricket Australia in the 2020-21 Big Bash League as the X-factor Player rule, the Impact Player rule is a similar version manufactured by the BCCI, which allows a team to substitute one player to play a more active role in an ongoing match. As described by the BCCI, each team will name four substitute players during the toss alongside the usual unveiling of the playing eleven. Only one out of the four substitute players can be used as an impact player.
Additionally, the impact player needs to be introduced before the 14th over of an inning. If the team is batting and wants to bring in the impact player, they need to either wait for the innings break or do it at the fall of a wicket. The Impact Player will be viable for use for the rest of the game but the player who has been replaced cannot take part in the match any longer.
The Impact Player rule can be best exploited by a bowling team. With swing bowlers being most useful in the opening overs and a bit lacking in the final ones, the Impact Player rule can be used to replace them with a better death-over bowler and he will be eligible to bowl his complete quota of four overs.
The rule was first implemented in the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy in October. Hritik Shokeen of the Delhi team was the first player to be used as an impact player. Among other players, Hari Nisaanth of the Tamil Nadu team and Shreyas Gopal of Karnataka were also used as impact players.
The rule is set to be implemented in the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League. After a test run in the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the new rule will definitely be an effective tactic that all the teams will be planning to employ.
