"It Has Made A Big Difference": Ravi Shastri Backs Impact Player Rule

Former India coach Ravi Shastri supported the Impact Player rule in the IPL, citing how it has led to exciting endings. However, several current players and coaches disagree. The Impact Player rule has been a hot topic of debate during the IPL 2024 and Shastri said the rule has contributed to many compelling finishes in the ongoing IPL edition. The rule allows a particular team to introduce a 12th player to the team from a list in which the five names are given at the time of a toss. A team can bring in a player for the playing XI by replacing any player the team wants, depending on the situation.

"The Impact Player [rule] is good. You have to evolve with the times. You know, it happens in other sports as well. It's got tighter finishes. You have to evolve with the times and I think it's a good rule. You saw the number of tight finishes we had in last year's IPL. So, you know, it has made a big difference," Shastri told Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel.

"You know when any new rule comes in, there will be...people will try and justify why that's not right. But in time when you see the scores - 200 and 190 - and then like you mentioned individuals grabbing that opportunity and making the most of it, people will start re-looking at how they think about it," Shastri said.

Meanwhile, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah refused to commit to the continuation of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying it would be decided after consulting with captains and coaches.

However, he emphasised the importance of the rule, which permits two additional Indian players to be included in an IPL team's XI. The Impact Player rule has been a hot topic of debate during the IPL 2024