New Delhi, March 23 (NationPress) Axar Patel, the captain of Delhi Capitals (DC), has openly shared his disapproval of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He believes it diminishes the contributions of all-rounders in this ten-team tournament, which is set to commence on March 28.

The Impact Player rule, which was brought into effect in 2023, permits all ten IPL franchises to swap either a batter or a bowler at any point during a match. "I genuinely do not favor this rule, primarily because I am an all-rounder. Previously, teams would select all-rounders for both batting and bowling duties," Axar stated.

"However, with this rule in place, team management tends to opt for a specific batsman or bowler, questioning the necessity of an all-rounder. Being an all-rounder myself, I find this rule unfavorable. Nonetheless, rules must be adhered to, even if I personally disagree with it," Axar expressed during a pre-season press conference held on Monday.

DC is set to kick off their IPL 2026 journey against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1. Axar has previously voiced his concerns regarding this ruling; back in 2024, as the vice-captain of DC, he mentioned that his batting position was impacted by the Impact Player rule.

Despite maintaining an economy rate of 7.3 throughout his IPL career, Axar faced his most challenging bowling season last year since joining DC in 2019. He conceded 8.5 runs per over and captured just five wickets across 11 innings. He clarified that his decline in bowling performance was due to a finger injury sustained during the victorious 2025 Champions Trophy and not attributed to the Impact Player rule.

"The injury to my spinning finger occurred during the Champions Trophy, right before the IPL. A cut from the seam of the ball worsened as I bowled, resulting in a deep laceration. This injury hindered my ability to apply pressure and spin on the ball," Axar explained.

“I bowled conservatively to preserve my finger, only taking on bowling duties when necessary. After seven matches, once my finger healed, I resumed bowling. This was not a result of the Impact Player rule,” he clarified.

In spite of a challenging bowling season, Axar excelled with the bat in 2025, amassing 263 runs in 11 innings at an impressive strike rate of 158, which included four innings of over 30 runs. He played a vital role in providing momentum to DC’s innings, maintaining a strike rate of 159 during the middle overs.

Since IPL 2025, his T20I batting figures have been modest, with 167 runs at an average of 18.6 and a strike rate of 119. However, he has continued to bowl effectively, securing 26 wickets at an economy rate of 7.7, earning him the reputation of a ‘crisis-man’—a player capable of supporting the team in challenging situations.

"As you might have noticed, I’ve consistently played various roles according to the team's needs. This is why I’ve earned the title of crisis-man. Whether it’s serving as a finisher or batting in the middle order, I adapt to what the team requires. We often discuss situations: whether a player is scoring four runs in two balls or 80 runs as an opener, each role is crucial for our success," he added.

"I maintain a mindset focused on fulfilling whatever role is necessary. This approach prevents frustration and disappointment, which can adversely affect performance. Therefore, I prioritize the team's needs. By doing so, you can give your full effort,” Axar concluded.