Ajinkya Rahane calls IPL impact player rule 'of no use', backs scrapping it
Synopsis
Ajinkya Rahane isn't just unhappy with the IPL impact player rule — he says most captains were already against it before last year's captains' meeting. His warning that the rule is hollowing out India's all-rounder pipeline, at a time when Hardik Pandya's absence has already exposed the gap, gives this debate a real national-team consequence beyond franchise cricket.
Key Takeaways
Ajinkya Rahane has called the IPL impact player rule 'of no use' and urged the BCCI to scrap it.
Rahane revealed that most IPL captains had already opposed the rule at last year's captains' meeting .
The rule is currently in IPL guidelines until 2027 ; a review may coincide with the next big player auction.
Rahane warned the rule is pushing all-rounders out of IPL cricket , hurting India's national team depth.
He cited matches where teams recovered from 90 or 100 for 7 to score 200+ using the impact player provision.
Hardik Pandya's absence has highlighted a thin fast-bowling all-rounder pipeline, with Shivam Dube and Nitish Reddy yet to match his output.
Former India cricketer and Indian Premier League captain Ajinkya Rahane has come out strongly against the impact player rule in the IPL, calling it pointless and urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India to eliminate it from the competition. Rahane, who has captained both the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals, made the remarks in an interview, joining a growing chorus of cricketers demanding the rule's removal.
Rahane's Case Against the Rule
'I think it should be taken out,' Rahane said plainly. He recalled that even before last year's IPL captains' meeting, most captains had voiced opposition to the regulation. 'I remember last year, before the IPL captains' meeting, most of the captains said they don't want the impact player rule,' he said.
Rahane also noted that the rule is currently enshrined in IPL guidelines until 2027, leaving uncertainty over whether it will be dropped this season or following the next big player auction. 'We don't know if this year they will take it out or after this year the big auction is coming up, in that they will take it out. But ideally, I feel there is no point or use in having an impact rule,' he added.
The All-Rounder Crisis in Indian Cricket
Central to Rahane's argument is the damage the rule is doing to the development of all-rounders in Indian cricket. Because franchises can freely substitute a batter for a bowler or vice versa mid-match, there is little incentive to field — or nurture — players who can contribute meaningfully in both disciplines.
'All-rounders are going out of the game, especially in the IPL. And I am a firm believer that you've got to develop your all-rounders. From the Indian team's point of view, all-rounders are really important,' Rahane said.
The void is visible at the national level. Hardik Pandya's recurring absences from the Indian setup have exposed a thin pipeline, with Shivam Dube and Nitish Reddy stepping up but widely regarded as still short of Pandya's all-round capabilities. Fast-bowling all-rounders, in particular, have become a rarity in Indian domestic and franchise cricket.
How the Rule Skews Match Outcomes
Rahane also pointed to specific match situations to illustrate how the rule distorts results. Without naming any team, he described sides that were struggling at 90 for 7 or 100 for 7 and still ended up posting totals in excess of 200, purely because an impact player gave them an additional specialist batter. 'So, I feel give some advantage to bowlers, and also all-rounders should be involved in the games thoroughly. They should take it out,' he said.
What Happens Next
The impact player rule, introduced in IPL 2023, allows teams to name a substitute in their playing XI who can bat or bowl in place of an existing player, effectively giving each side a twelve-man squad in key phases. The BCCI has yet to make any public statement on whether it will review the rule ahead of the next season. With the guideline reportedly locked in until 2027 and a major auction on the horizon, any decision is likely to be part of a broader franchise and player consultation process. The debate is expected to intensify as the cricketing calendar approaches the next IPL cycle.
Point of View
Even if those recoveries come at the cost of a generation of all-rounders. India's failure to produce a Hardik Pandya successor is partly structural, and the impact player rule is one structural choice the board can actually reverse. The question is whether franchise revenue interests outweigh long-term national team planning — and the BCCI's track record suggests the answer is not obvious.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IPL impact player rule?
The IPL impact player rule, introduced in IPL 2023, allows each team to name a substitute player who can replace a member of the playing XI mid-match, effectively giving sides a specialist batter or bowler at a strategic moment. Critics argue it inflates batting scores and reduces the incentive to develop or field all-rounders.
Why does Ajinkya Rahane want the impact player rule removed?
Rahane argues the rule is pushing all-rounders out of IPL cricket, which in turn weakens India's national team depth. He also cited match situations where teams at 90 or 100 for 7 still reached 200-plus totals because of the extra batter the rule allows, calling that an unfair advantage.
What did IPL captains say about the impact player rule last year?
According to Rahane, most IPL captains told the captains' meeting before last year's tournament that they did not want the impact player rule. Despite that collective opposition, the rule was retained under guidelines reportedly locked in until 2027.
How is the impact player rule affecting Indian cricket's all-rounder pipeline?
With franchises freely swapping batters for bowlers and vice versa, there is little incentive to pick or develop players who can do both. This has contributed to a dearth of fast-bowling all-rounders in Indian domestic cricket, an absence felt most sharply when Hardik Pandya is unavailable for the national team.
When could the IPL impact player rule be changed?
The rule is reportedly in IPL guidelines until 2027. A review could happen either ahead of the next IPL season or as part of a broader restructuring tied to the next major player auction. The BCCI has not yet made any public announcement on the matter.
