Impact Player Rule In IPL
In October and November 2022, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tested the Impact Player rule during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This rule was then used in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the 2023 season. Excitingly, the Impact Player rule will also be part of IPL 2025.
The Impact Player rule lets each IPL team use one extra player during a match. This player can bat or bowl, which makes them very important to the game.
The Impact Player is not the same as the usual substitution rule in international cricket. In international cricket, a substitute fielder can replace an injured player on the field, but they cannot bat or bowl in that game.
Although players who have concussions can bat and bowl, this is different. That situation happens only when a player is injured, while the Impact Player rule allows teams to make a choice about when to use their extra player. Let’s take a closer look at the Impact Player rule in the IPL.
What is Impact Player Rule in IPL?
The Impact Player rule in the IPL allows each team to choose five extra players along with their main playing XI before the match starts.
After the match begins, the captain of each team can pick one of these five substitutes to replace any player from the main team during natural breaks in the game. These breaks can be at the start of a new inning, the end of an over, when a wicket falls, or when a batter retires.
However, if a team brings in an Impact Player after a wicket falls or when a batter retires in the middle of an over, the substitute cannot bowl the remaining balls of that over.
Still, the Impact Player can bowl his full four overs, no matter how many overs the player being replaced has already bowled.
Once a player from the starting XI is replaced by the Impact Player, they cannot return to play for the rest of the match. A team can use only one Impact Player in a game.
There is one important rule. If a team has already chosen the maximum four overseas players in their main playing XI, they can only use an Indian player as their Impact Player. But if a team has picked three or fewer overseas players in their starting XI, they can choose a foreign player from the substitutes list as their Impact Player.
Who Was The First Impact Player in the IPL?
On March 31, 2023, Tushar Deshpande from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made history by becoming the first Impact Player in IPL. He replaced Ambati Rayudu during the season opener against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Throughout IPL 2023, teams used the Impact Player rule often, showing how they could turn it into a smart strategy. CSK, who won the tournament, used the rule very well.
Other players like Venkatesh Iyer from Kolkata Knight Riders and Dhruv Jurel from Rajasthan Royals also stood out as Impact Players in IPL 2023.
The rule gives teams many new ways to plan and make smart choices during games. It adds something new and exciting to the IPL. However, since the rule is still new, it remains to be seen if teams will continue using it in the future.
List of Impact Players Used in IPL 2024
Match | Impact Player | Replaced Player |
RR vs PBKS | Donovan Ferreira (RR) | Dhruv Jurel (RR) |
RR vs PBKS | Ashutosh Sharma (PBKS) | Arshdeep Singh (PBKS) |
DC vs LSG | Ishant Sharma (DC) | Abhishek Porel (DC) |
DC vs LSG | Ayush Badoni (LSG) | Mohsin Khan (LSG) |
RCB vs DC | Swapnil Singh (RCB) | Rajat Patidar (RCB) |
RCB vs DC | David Warner (DC) | Khaleel Ahmed (DC) |
CSK vs RR | Sameer Rizvi (CSK) | Daryl Mitchell (CSK) |
CSK vs RR | Nandre Burger (RR) | Dhruv Jurel (RR) |
KKR vs MI | Vaibhav Arora (KKR) | Nitish Rana (KKR) |
KKR vs MI | Rohit Sharma (MI) | Nuwan Thushara (MI) |
GT vs CSK | Sandeep Warrier (GT) | Sai Sudharsan (GT) |
GT vs CSK | Ajinkya Rahane (CSK) | Tushar Deshpande (CSK) |
PBKS vs RCB | Jitesh Sharma (PBKS) | Vidhwath Kaverappa (PBKS) |
PBKS vs RCB | Yash Dayal (RCB) | Rajat Patidar (RCB) |
SRH vs LSG | Abhishek Sharma (SRH) | T Natarajan (SRH) |
SRH vs LSG | Not Used (LSG) | Not Used (LSG) |
DC vs RR | Rasikh Salam (DC) | Abhishek Porel (DC) |
DC vs RR | Jos Buttler (RR) | Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) |
MI vs SRH | Not Used (MI) | Not Used (MI) |
MI vs SRH | Sanvir Singh (SRH) | Abhishek Sharma (SRH) |
LSG vs KKR | Arshin Kulkarni (LSG) | Yash Thakur (LSG) |
LSG vs KKR | Vaibhav Arora (KKR) | Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR) |
PBKS vs CSK | Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS) | Arshdeep Singh (PBKS) |
PBKS vs CSK | Simranjeet Singh (CSK) | Ajinkya Rahane (CSK) |
RCB vs GT | Rajat Patidar (RCB) | Yash Dayal (RCB) |
RCB vs GT | Vijay Shankar (GT) | Sai Sudharsan (GT) |
MI vs KKR | Rohit Sharma (MI) | Nuwan Thushara (MI) |
MI vs KKR | Manish Pandey (KKR) | Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR) |
SRH vs RR | Jaydev Unadkat (SRH) | Anmolpreet Singh (SRH) |
SRH vs RR | Jos Buttler (RR) | Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) |
CSK vs PBKS | Sameer Rizvi (CSK) | Ajinkya Rahane (CSK) |
CSK vs PBKS | Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS) | Arshdeep Singh (PBKS) |
LSG vs MI | Arshin Kulkarni (LSG) | Mayank Yadav (LSG) |
LSG vs MI | Nuwan Thushara (MI) | Suryakumar Yadav (MI) |
KKR vs RCB | Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR) | Varun Chakravarthy (KKR) |
KKR vs RCB | Kumar Kushagra (DC) | Prithvi Shaw (DC) |
CSK vs SRH | Shardul Thakur (CSK) | Shivam Dube (CSK) |
CSK vs SRH | Anmolpreet Singh (SRH) | T Natarajan (SRH) |
GT v RCB | Sandeep Warrier (GT) | Sai Sudharsan (GT) |
GT v RCB | Not Used (RCB) | Not Used (RCB) |
LSG vs RR | Amit Mishra (LSG) | Quinton de Kock (LSG) |
LSG vs RR | Riyan Parag (RR) | Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) |
DC v MI | Rasikh Salam (DC) | Kumar Kushagra (DC) |
DC v MI | Nuwan Thushara (MI) | Suryakumar Kumar (MI) |
When Can The Impact Player Be Introduced In the Match?
In the IPL, an Impact Player can be brought into the game at any time. The captain can choose to bring the Impact Player in before a new inning starts, after an over finishes, when a wicket falls, or if a batter retires.
If the Impact Player is a bowler and comes in after a wicket falls, he cannot bowl the remaining balls of that over. He can only start bowling from the next over.
Who can be the Impact Player?
Before the match starts, each team will choose five substitute players. From these five, the captain will pick one player to be the Impact Player.
When the captain decides to use the Impact Player, they must tell the on-field umpire before making the change.
When can the impact player be Indian and overseas?
In the IPL, if a team has four overseas players in their starting XI, they cannot choose another overseas player as their Impact Player. This rule helps keep the number of overseas players to four, a rule that has been in place since 2008.
However, if a team has fewer than four overseas players in their starting lineup, they can use an overseas player as their Impact Player.
What role can the Impact player play during the game?
The Impact Player in the IPL can bat for any number of overs and bowl up to four overs, no matter who he is replacing.
For example, in the first innings, the batting team can choose an extra batter. Later, they can replace this batter or any other batter to have an extra bowler in the second innings.
If a team bowls first, they can use an extra bowler in the first innings. Then, in the second innings when they are chasing runs, they can replace that bowler with a batter.
FAQ’s
How many Impact Players can be used in one IPL match?
Each team can use only 1 Impact Player in an IPL match. Out of the five substitutes named before the match, only one can replace a player during the game.
Can an Impact Player be used in both innings?
Yes, an Impact Player can be used in both innings. Once the Impact Player is introduced, they can stay in the playing XI for the entire match, contributing in both innings if needed.
How many times can a team use an Impact Player in IPL?
A team can use the Impact Player rule only once during a match. The substitution can happen at any time during the game, but only one Impact Player can be introduced.
Can a foreign player be an Impact Player in the IPL?
Yes, a foreign player can be used as an Impact Player, but only if the team’s starting XI includes three or fewer overseas players. If a team has four overseas players in the starting XI, they can only bring in an Indian Impact Player.