After the ‘Impact Player’ rule was introduced in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament of 2022–2023, Rohit Sharma has stated that he does not like it. The India skipper lamented the negative impact of all-rounder development in a recent episode of the Club Prairie Fire Podcast.
On the podcast with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan, Rohit stated, “I generally feel that it is going to hold back [allrounders] because eventually cricket is played by 11 players, not 12 players.” “I don’t think highly of impact players. To make the game slightly more engaging for those nearby, you are extracting a great deal from it. However, if you look at it from a purely cricketing perspective, I can think of countless examples: players like Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube aren’t getting to bowl, which is bad for us [the Indian squad].
In the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, Rohit made these remarks as India is about to pick its roster. The winners of the first series in 2007 will need to focus on maintaining proper balance because their top-order hitters have no bowling experience. While Ravindra Jadeja is the spin-bowling equivalent, Rohit will bet on Hardik Pandya to recover his form as the seam-bowling all-rounder.
In their final Twenty20 International match before the IPL, India faced Dube. The all-rounder scored a career-high 124 runs at a strike-rate of 158.97 and claimed two wickets in his seven overs. The 30-year-old has continued his successful run at bat with the Chennai Super Kings, but his bowling services are no longer valid due to the ‘Impact Substitute’ judgment. In six games, Sunrisers Hyderabad have only need Washington to surrender three overs.
The rule may have a big effect on Dube’s selection in the team, especially considering how good he is at spin, which India needs in the middle order on the slower surfaces of the Caribbean. Regarding the IPL and its prospects in light of this regulation, Rohit lacked specific ideas.
“I don’t know what you can do about it, but I’m not a fan of it [the rule] honestly speaking,” he replied. “There are clearly 12 players available for you to choose from, and you can watch how the game is progressing and adjust it later based on your needs and the way the pitch is acting.
“You have the option to have six or seven bowlers if you bat well and don’t lose wickets. You can add another bowler.” Many of the teams up front are batting well, so you don’t really need that extra batter, and you hardly ever see Nos. 7 or 8 take the field.”
