IPL 2025 – UR Ashwin backs Impact Player rule to provide ‘more strategic value’

“In this generation, they don’t [batters bowling and vice-versa]. It’s not like they’re discouraged because of the Impact Player rule. Look at Venkatesh Iyer, currently doing wonders for Lancashire. There’s an opportunity for innovation and it makes the game better.”

“If the pitchers are able to make games one-way, second-pitching teams get another option as a counter. If you’re batting second, you can creatively make another pitch by getting an extra bowler out to get the batter.

“The games are getting tougher, an extra player is going to play. Apart from Kolkata or Mumbai, where the scores have gone up, there hasn’t been much change elsewhere. Like at the home ground of Punjab Kings. [Mullanpur]it was all 160-170 games.”

“If a franchise releases a player because they don’t see him in their top four or five, then what gives them the right to jump in the middle of the auction”

Ashwin in the Copyright Act

Ashwin argued that a number of players have risen to the top, even in the national team, because of this rule. “Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube most importantly, Dhruv Jurel… If not for the Impact Player rule, he might never have had a chance. So the emergence of many players has happened. I’m not saying it’s the only way for players to emerge, but it’s not that bad.”

Ashwin doesn’t want it, not in his current form.

“If the franchise releases a player because they don’t see him in the top four or five, what gives them the right to enter the auction,” continued Ashwin. “You give the player a chance to ask if they want a fair match. There should be a contract binding the two parties, saying they can only be given RTM if the amount is X amount and leave that pre-determined amount up to the player.”