Former India cricketer Suresh Raina, who won the IPL four times with Chennai Super Kings, has criticised the Impact Player rule in the tournament. Raina feels the rule has reduced the chances for players to improve and has made things tougher for bowlers.
The Impact Player rule was introduced in 2023 and has been debated ever since. Several players, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have spoken against it in the past.
According to Raina, the rule has also played a big role in the huge scores being seen in the IPL. Scores of 200 are no longer always enough, while teams have crossed the 250-run mark several times in recent seasons. Punjab Kings also successfully chased a target of more than 260 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2024 season.
“I am against the Impact player rule. A lot of fit players also bat and just sit down. How will you improve? There is no such rule in the World Cup. I understand the entertainment factor, but there is nothing left for the bowlers,” Raina said while speaking to Aakash Chopra.
Raina pointed out how the game has changed in recent years, with teams regularly putting up massive totals and chasing targets that once seemed almost impossible.
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“Earlier, 170 was a competitive score, but now 250 is being chased as well. Even 300 is being scored. Leave something for the bowlers. There is no wicket-taking option,” Raina said.
He also believes the presence of an extra batter puts even more pressure on bowlers, as batters can play more freely without worrying as much about getting out.
“The batters don’t get out and with extra batters, there will be pressure on the bowlers,” Raina added.
Raina, who was part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, also shared his views on whether Indian cricketers should be allowed to play in overseas T20 leagues.
The former left-handed batter feels there is no need for Indian players to participate in leagues such as the Big Bash League or The Hundred at the moment. He believes the IPL has grown far beyond those competitions.
“I feel Indian players shouldn’t be allowed now. Our league has become very big. When we used to go on Australia and England tours before, I used to ask this. I had come close to playing as well, but then they said no,” Raina said.