-Legendary Cricketer Says Rule Creates Imbalance Between Bat and Ball in T20 Cricket

NEW DELHI, May 31 (H.S.): Former batting great Sachin Tendulkar has expressed his belief that the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL) should be abolished, arguing that it creates an imbalance between bat and ball in T20 cricket by further strengthening batting line-ups at the expense of bowlers.

Tendulkar contended that bowlers are already under considerable pressure in the shortest format of the game and that the rule tilts the contest even more heavily in favour of batsmen by allowing teams to introduce an additional specialist batter into an already strong line-up.

Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards ceremony, Tendulkar said, “Personally, I feel that the concept of the Impact Player should be done away with.”

He explained, “In a format where a team only has 20 overs to bat, adding another batter to the line-up creates a clear imbalance. Bowlers are already facing significant challenges in T20 cricket, and this rule only increases that disparity.”

The Impact Player rule was introduced in the IPL in 2023. Under the regulation, teams are permitted to replace a player from their playing XI with one of five pre-nominated substitutes during the course of a match.

Critics of the rule argue that it allows batsmen to play with greater freedom and aggression, knowing that teams possess additional batting depth. This trend has been reflected in the rising scoring rates and increasingly high team totals witnessed over the last few IPL seasons.

Tendulkar is not alone in his criticism of the rule. Several prominent Indian cricketers, including Rohit Sharma, Axar Patel, and Shubman Gill, have also questioned its impact on the balance of the game.

In addition to advocating the removal of the Impact Player rule, Tendulkar proposed two further changes aimed at restoring equilibrium between bat and ball in T20 cricket.

His first suggestion was to divide the six-over powerplay into separate batting and bowling powerplays. Under the current regulations, only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle during the first six overs of an innings.

Tendulkar proposed that the first four overs should remain a conventional batting powerplay with existing field restrictions. The remaining two overs, however, should become a bowling powerplay that the fielding captain can deploy at any stage of the innings.

During these two designated overs, the fielding side would be permitted to position one additional fielder outside the circle, providing bowlers with greater tactical support.

Explaining the rationale behind the proposal, Tendulkar said it would enable the fielding team to exert greater control over the game and introduce a more strategic element to the contest.

His second recommendation was to allow one bowler per team to bowl a maximum of five overs instead of the current four-over limit.

The former India captain argued that teams' best bowlers are often the players spectators most want to watch, and extending their workload by one over would enhance the quality of competition.

“Wouldn’t you like to see the best bowler bowl more?” Tendulkar asked. “Top batsmen can remain at the crease for the full 20 overs if they are good enough. So why shouldn’t the best bowler be allowed to bowl a fifth over?”

Tendulkar’s comments are likely to reignite debate over the Impact Player rule and broader questions regarding the balance between batting and bowling in modern T20 cricket, particularly in a format increasingly dominated by high-scoring contests.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar