IPL 2026: Captains express concerns over 'Impact Player' rule

Captains from all 10 Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises have expressed their skepticism over the ‘Impact Sub’ ahead of the start of the 19th season of the tournament. 

At the traditional all-captains meet held at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) headquarters in Mumbai, captains expressed their concerns to the authorities about the ruling. Despite the reservations raised by the team captains, it has been made clear that any reassessment will only be made following the conclusion of the 2027 IPL season. 

First introduced in 2023, the Impact Sub rules allows a team to bring in a substitute for any of their existing players in the playing XI at any stage of the game. The rule was utilised by teams for bringing in a bowler during their bowling innings in place of a batter or vice versa to give them an additional specialist. The ruling reduced the role of an all-rounder in the team with many suggesting that it could also hamper the development of young all-rounders in the country.

According to reports, one of the senior-most captains voiced his disapproval of the Impact Player rule in an all-Indian captains’ ahead of one of the previous editions of the IPL and received a resounding backing from the other skippers present. 

Despite its negative aspects, one benefit of the Impact Player rule is that it allows one additional Indian player to take part in an IPL game. Majority of the Impact Subs have been Indian players since teams are allowed to play only four overseas players in a game, including the substitute. 

Over the years, there have been designated players being used as Impact Subs in a game, like Shivam Dube for Chennai Super Kings.