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Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid recently gave his candid opinion on the Impact Player rule, admitting that he wasn’t particularly fond of it when he was the head coach of the Indian cricket team. While acknowledging the strategic value and competitiveness it brings to the IPL, Dravid raised concerns about its impact on team selection, especially concerning all-rounders.
In an interview with Sportstar, Dravid spoke about how the rule has made the IPL more dynamic and competitive but also pointed out some challenges, particularly from the perspective of national team selection.
“When I was India’s coach, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t particularly fond of the Impact Player rule,” Dravid shared. “Not because it doesn’t make the game more exciting — it absolutely does. It adds an element of complexity, keeping matches alive until the very end. But from the viewpoint of national team selection, it presented certain challenges.”
One of the key changes the rule brings, according to Dravid, is the way it has altered batting dynamics. “Statistically, scoring rates have increased because teams now have an extra specialist batter. This means no team is ever truly out of the game. You could have a batter at No. 8 or even No. 9, and that gives you the chance for aggressive hitting even after losing six or seven wickets,” he explained.
However, Dravid highlighted a potential downside for all-rounders under the new rule. Traditionally, all-rounders played a vital role in providing balance to a team, but with the Impact Player rule, teams have more flexibility to manage without one if the right fit isn’t available.
“As a coach, you want to develop all-rounders, and under the old 11 vs. 11 format, these players had more opportunities to bat or bowl in different situations,” Dravid said. “The Impact Player rule has somewhat changed that dynamic. While all-rounders still bring balance to a team, they’re no longer as essential. Teams can now do without them if they find other combinations that work better.”
While the Impact Player rule has certainly made the IPL more competitive, Dravid’s comments suggest that it has also introduced new challenges, particularly in the development and utilization of all-rounders, who traditionally played a more prominent role in balancing the team.
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