IPL 2024: Former India head coach backs impact player rule amid controversy

Amid criticism from several fans and experts, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has backed the controversial impact player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

As per the former all-rounder, impact player rule has made the domestic T20 league tighter. He also went on to say that the impact player rule has made a big difference and it’s critics will eventually have to look at it again.

“The impact player rule is good. You have to evolve with the time. You know, it happens in other sports as well. It’s got tighter finishes. You have to evolve with the times and I think it’s a good rule. You saw the number of tight finishes we had in last year’s IPL. So, you know, it has made a big difference,”said Shastri on his official YouTube channel.

“You know when any new rule comes in, people will try and justify why that is not right. But in time when you see the scores - 200 and 190 - and then like you mentioned individuals grabbing that opportunity and making the most of it, people will start re-looking at how they think about it,” he added.

Notably, BCCI had introduced the impact player rule in 2023. The rule allows teams to bring in a 12th player from the list of five names. The controversial rule allows an IPL team to replace an existing player at any point in the match and bring in an impact player in his place.