The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season is set to introduce a new ‘Impact Player’ rule that could provide more opportunities for Indian players. Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra discussed the implications of the rule and how it could benefit the Indian players.
According to the new rule, the ten franchises can use an extra player from their squad as a substitute for one of their players during the game. However, the replacement player must be Indian unless only three overseas players are in their starting XI. Captains can announce their playing XI according to the situation after the toss, which is another new rule for the IPL 2023 season.
Chopra believes that the ‘Impact Player’ rule can provide more opportunities for Indian players, as eight Indians can now play in a match instead of the previous seven. He mentioned how the franchisees can make the most of the rule, citing Prabhsimran Singh’s example. Chopra also noted that uncapped Indian players could benefit from the rule, as they could now receive more playing time.
In addition, Chopra believes that the ‘Impact Player’ rule can be used in the first innings of a match. If a team suffers a collapse in their batting order, they could substitute a player to strengthen their batting. Similarly, if a team’s bowler goes for plenty of runs, they could substitute the bowler with another one.
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Overall, the ‘Impact Player’ rule is expected to provide more opportunities for Indian players in the IPL 2023 season. The rule could also provide teams with more flexibility and the ability to adjust their strategy during a match. It remains to be seen how the rule will impact the upcoming season, but Chopra is optimistic about its potential benefits for Indian players.