Ajinkya Rahane urges removal of IPL Impact Player rule
Ajinkya Rahane says the Impact Player rule is diminishing the role of all-rounders and should be scrapped to protect India's long-term interests.
Ajinkya Rahane has called for the removal of the IPL Impact Player rule, saying it is reducing the need for teams to develop all-rounders. The former Kolkata Knight Riders captain revealed that most IPL captains opposed the rule at a meeting last year.
Rahane argued that the rule discourages captains from selecting batters who can also bowl effectively. In IPL 2022, players batting in the top seven bowled 21 of every 100 overs, but that number dropped to 10 in the last edition. The trend has continued into 2026, with top-seven batters delivering only 4.2 overs per match on average.
The BCCI extended the rule through 2027, and Rahane said he will watch to see if it is removed ahead of the 2028 season, which coincides with the next mega auction. He believes India needs versatile players who can contribute in both disciplines.
CricHubb Take
The data on bowling overs from top-seven batters shows the rule change has already altered what kind of player survives in the IPL, not just how matches are won.