Former England captain Michael Atherton hates the Impact Player rule, which ignited several debates during the Indian Premier League 2024. India captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli have also criticized the rule, calling it a blocking stone in the growth of all-rounders in India. It was introduced in 2023 after the successful trial in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Several current cricketers held the Impact Sub Rule responsible for the thrashing of the bowlers and posting of high totals in the 17th season.
“I hate Impact Sub Rule as it distorts the game. The game is designed in the form of 11 against 11. The part of the beauty of the game is to balance your side within the limitations of your eleven, and it thinks sub-rule distorts it,” Michael Atherton said on SKY Sports.
However, Eoin Morgan refused to accept his logic.
“I am all for a change if it adds value at some level, even if sides were getting bowled out for 160, and that was competitive. 240 is really, really competitive. I would imagine a shift at some stage, even if it means the introduction of two Impact Player Subs as that is what the bowlers need, or it might be a trend change at the World Cup,” Eoin Morgan said.
Nasser Hussain said that he doesn’t see batters going hard against the bowlers from the start in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 as conditions would be different from the Indian Premier League.
Moran agreed with him. “I totally agree with you because not all the teams have that kind of firepower. However, the teams have players who can play aggressively. In a T20 game, a team generally loses five or six wickets in 20 overs. The game continues to evolve even without the Impact Player Rule. The sides are willing to take risks. The upcoming World Cup is going to be fascinating if the conditions are in favor of the bowlers. The sides who don’t have much to lose will come out all guns blazing,” Morgan responded.
