Everything you need to know: IPL's Impact Player Rule

An important factor that will be doing the rounds in the auction room while the batons go up is the newly introduced rule of ‘Impact Player’ that has so far been quite a success in other sports and India’s domestic arcade after being introduced in recent times. However, there were a few questions around the rule and in a latest explainer by the IPL, they have all been answered.

In a press release issued by the IPL, talking about the Impact Player Rule, the governing body said, “This will add a new tactical, strategic dimension to the game. A number of team sports allow teams to make tactical substitutes i.e., football, rugby, basketball, baseball. The substitute is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player."

Here are the answers provided by the IPL to a few frequently asked questions:

How does the rule work?

Every team will have to choose a list of four substitutes from which any one player can be introduced into the playing XI and the preamble of the new player needs to come ahead of the 14th over of an innings.

When can the Impact Player be introduced?

An Impact Player needs to come on either at the start of the innings, at the end of an over, at the fall of a wicket or when a batter retires. However, if the fielding side introduces an impact player during an over, he will not be able to bowl the remainder of that over.

Fate of the player substituted:

The player who will be substituted will play no further part in the game, not even as a substitute fielder.

Why can't an Impact player be an overseas player?

The bar for the number of the foreign players in the playing XI is 4. Hence, if the Impact Player comes out as a foreign star, then that makes it 5 at the time of playing. To nullify this advantage, unless a team is playing with less than four foreigners, the Impact Player cannot be an overseas cricketer.

Will there be a change in numbers about the players who can bat?

Eleven players stand firm in a team. Now if you are adding an extra batter in your line-up, that means a bowler who was supposed to bat will be stripped of that advantage.