When it became clear what Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Impact Player strategy was for their IPL 2023 clash against Lucknow Super Giants today (April 7), it was praised as a novel twist on the new rule. Instead, they ended up tying themselves in knots.
So far, the Impact Player has been a better idea in theory than in practice. While there has been the odd beneficiary use, such as LSG bringing in Krishnappa Gowtham for Ayush Badoni for the final ball, and a six resulting, more often the sub has been far from super, with SRH’s T Natarajan coming in and bowling two overs for 34 a prime example.
This time, they had a clear plan. Naming only three overseas players in their XI, along with three overseas on the bench, they had plenty of options. Heinrich Klaasen could come in in the event of a collapse, while Marco Jansen and Fazalhaq Farooqi presented pace options. Mayank Markande was a leg-spin option too. Harsha Bhogle, on commentary, praised the strategy.
However, their batting innings did not unfold as if they had the extra batting security in the form of Klaasen. They chose to consolidate after an early collapse, and while they did keep wickets in hand, a fifth-wicket stand of 39 in 8.1 overs left them short. Abdul Samad bashed two sixes in the last over to suggest they could have gone harder.
Still, on a turning pitch – seven of the eight first-innings wickets fell to slow bowlers – SRH would have felt in the game, especially with New Zealand almost defending 99 in a T20I against India at the start of the year.
However, instead of subbing in Markande to load their side with spin options, SRH opted to bring in Farooqi instead. Farooqi is a fine bowler, and emerged with the pick of the figures, taking 1-13 in three overs, but it was two wickets in two balls late on for Adil Rashid that showed the real missed opportunity.
Only the SRH management will know whether they felt compelled to use an overseas Impact Player option, given their choice to go in light on internationals. And only they will know why Akeal Hosein, a left-arm spinner, wasn’t among the overseas benchwarmers.
In the end, LSG would almost certainly have had too much in the tank to overcome SRH, and with two defeats from two, it won’t be long until questions are asked of decisions made before the seasons started. But their struggles still show that, while the Impact Player can be an opportunity, there are pitfalls with it too.
