Explained: IPL Impact Player, the substitution system that will debut in IPL 2023
IPL 2023 will see the Impact Player rule making its debut. Here’s all you need to know about how this latest innovation will work.
The IPL announced the Impact Player rule just before the Mega Auction in December last year. It created a lot of buzz and has been the talking point in almost every tactical discussion related to this season of the IPL.
The fundamental concept behind introducing this rule was borrowed from other team sports such as football, rugby, basketball, and baseball, all of which allow teams to make tactical substitutions in the game. “This will add a tactical, strategic dimension to the game,” was the quote from an IPL press release just before the auction.
How does the Impact Player rule work?
Teams will have to name five substitutes while naming their starting XI. They will be allowed to replace one player from their starting XI with one of those five substitutes at any point during the match, albeit with some constraints.
Impact Player has to be Indian
The Impact Player has to be an Indian player unless the starting XI contains less than four overseas players in the first place. This is done to ensure that no team gets to use more than four overseas players during a game. In case any team has named a starting XI with three or fewer overseas players, they will be allowed to field another overseas player as an Impact player.
When can the Impact Player be introduced?
The Impact Player can be introduced at any of the following stages:
- Before the start of the innings
- After an over finishes
- At the fall of a wicket or if a batter retires
In case the fielding side introduces the Impact Player mid-over, which can happen in scenario ‘3’ stated above, the Impact Player won’t be allowed to bowl the remaining balls of the ongoing over.
If a player from the fielding side gets injured mid-over and is replaced by the Impact Player, he won’t be allowed to bowl the remaining balls of the ongoing over in that case either.
What role can the Impact Player play in the game?
The Impact Player will be allowed to bowl a maximum of four overs (in a complete, non-shortened game) irrespective of what stage he enters the game. To simplify, if the fielding side introduces the Impact Player in the 12th over, he will still be allowed to bowl four overs.
On the other hand, if the batting side introduces the Impact Player, he can bat at any position while making sure that only 11 players get to bat.
What role can the player who is replaced play in the game?
The player who has been replaced can take no further part in the game, and won’t be allowed to come on as a substitute fielder as well.
How will the Impact Player be introduced?
The captain will have to inform the on field umpires about the introduction of the Impact Player, and the umpire will make a signal by crossing his hands above his head, signifying that the Impact Player has been introduced.
IPL has also announced that captains can name the playing XI after the toss. Coupled with this rule, the Impact Player rule is bound to induce a lot of interesting tactical decisions in IPL 2023.
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