The Impact Player rule has certainly caused some rifts within the cricketing community. Few have praised it for making the game more dynamic and thrilling, while many have criticized the same for other reasons.
The latest name to join in and criticize the polarizing rule is none other than RCB and Indian talisman batter, Virat Kohli himself.
Kohli, in a recent talk with JioCinema, spoke in support of his Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s comments on the Impact Player rule, stating that he mirrored the same beliefs as Rohit, who stated that the rule has “disrupted the balance” of the game.
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“I agree with Rohit. Entertainment is one aspect of the game but there is no balance,” Kohli exclaimed during his talk with JioCinema.
“I think it has disrupted the balance and a lot of people are feeling this way, not just me,” he said.
Rohit Sharma, earlier on the Prairie Fire Podcast with Adam Gilchrist and Micheal Vaughan stated, “I’m not a big fan (of the Impact Player rule)… It’s going to hold back all-rounders. Cricket is played by 11, not 12 (players).”
One cannot argue with the imbalance that has ensued in the IPL since the introduction of the Impact Player rule last year.
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In fact, the stats speak for themselves. The 2024 and 2023 editions of the IPL are ranked as the top two seasons with the most 200+ totals, with 38* and 37 respectively. In addition to the same, this current 2024 season itself has seen eight 250-plus totals.
Virat Kohli empathized with the struggles of bowlers in today’s game due to the Impact Player rule and expounded on the obstacles they face.
“Bowlers are feeling like what they should do. I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede four or a six on every ball,” stated Kohli.
“Not every team has a Bumrah (Jasprit) or the mystery of Rashid Khan,” he said.
The RCB opener even went as far as to accept that the reason for his aggressive level of play so far this season has been attributed to knowing that yet another batter can step in anytime to ease the pain, if he fails to fire or departs quickly.
“I am telling you, with one extra batter there is a reason I am playing with 200-plus strike rate in the powerplays. I know there is a batsman waiting at No. 8 as well.
“We are playing a high level of cricket and it should not be that dominant in my opinion. There is a beauty about having an equal balance between bat and ball…Only fours and sixes are not exciting in cricket. Exciting is that you can defend 160 as well,” Kohli added.
“I am sure Jay (Shah) bhai has mentioned it already that they will review it and I am sure that they will come to a conclusion which brings the game into balance.”
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