CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress / ITDC News Bhopal: The Impact Player rule is making the waves in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League. The rule which was introduced last year has been under the scanners as Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also recently pointed out its drawbacks. He stated on the ‘Club Prairie Fire Podcast’: “I’m not a big fan… It’s going to hold back all-rounders. Cricket is played by 11, not 12.”

The Impact Player Rule allows one substitute player per team to take a more active part in a match. The substitute can replace any player introduced at any time before the completion of the 14th over of either innings in a match. He is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player.

The rule was introduced in the last season but after analysing it with time, franchises have started using it well in their favour this year as we have seen several 400-plus combined total games in just the first half.

The Impact Player rule has made things easy for IPL franchises in terms of tactical decisions as now they have the privilege of having an extra player which they can choose according to the situation of the match. However, it turns out to be a boon and bane for the players.

A young player like Ashutosh Sharma has been getting constant opportunities this year as a lower-middle order batter for Punjab Kings being the Impact Player. It has worked well for his franchise and for him too in terms of getting attention through his brilliant performances but without the Impact Player, it would have been tough for a player like him to get so many chances due to team combinations and experienced players getting a nod over him.

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However, at the same time, it might have impacted someone like Shivam Dube – an all-rounder who has been in incredible form with the bat but he is not getting any chance to bowl for Chennai Super Kings. Dube has been used by his franchise very efficiently as an Impact Player but that has put doubts over his place in the T20 World Cup squad.

Former India cricketer and two-time IPL winner with CSK, Subramaniam Badrinath asserted that the Impact Rule is a positive thing in terms of getting another player an opportunity to display their talent on the big stage.

“I see the Impact Player as a very very positive thing purely from a perspective that instead of 11 players getting an opportunity, another player is getting an opportunity to showcase his skills that is what is all about. It brings in a more tactical perspective to the game,” Subramaniam Badrinath replied to Hindustan Times’ query on Star Sports Press Room.

Meanwhile, the former CSK star also gave his honest take on whether the rule is affecting a player like Dube and suggested that the franchise is using it well to get the desired results

“If Shivam Dube can bowl well he can still be on the field but there is some other better bowler or a better fielder who gets an opportunity that’s the reason probably Shivam Dube is not there, he has been given a very-very specific role – a middle over specialist, in the middle-over he comes in when there are slow bowlers are on, spinners are bowling, that’s where he is the both effective but with ball in hand and on the field there are some other players who are much more effective and they are getting an opportunity to be on the field at that point,” Badrinath explained.