The ‘Impact Players’ rule will be introduced in the 2023 Indian Premier League. This rule, which allows a substitute player to be named before the start of a match, was first introduced by the International Cricket Council in July 2005 for One Day Internationals. This ‘Super Sub’ can be used to replace any player in the starting lineup during the game.
The ‘Super Sub’ concept was used for a period of nine months. However, it was ultimately abandoned because it was considered to give an unfair advantage to the team winning the toss. The International Cricket Council has not reintroduced the concept, although some domestic leagues have implemented similar rules for their events.
The ‘X-factor sub’ was first implemented in the Big Bash League of Australia in November 2020. Similarly, the Impact Players rule will be introduced in the next edition of the Indian Premier League, providing teams with an additional tactical option during games.
For more information on how the system works, The Cricreads offers a detailed explanation.
Q: What is the new system?
A: Each team is allowed to make one substitution during the course of a match, which is referred to as the Impact Player.
Q: How to choose an Impact Player?
A: At the start of the match, teams will have to name four substitutes alongside their playing XI. One of these four substitutes can later be designated as an Impact Player.
Q: When can the Impact Player be brought in?
A: The captain of the team has the option to bring in the Impact Player at various moments during the match, such as before the start of innings, after an over, when a wicket falls, and when a batsman retires hurt or exits the field, with the exception of dismissal. However, if the fielding team chooses to introduce the Impact Player during an over, the player will not be permitted to bowl the remaining deliveries of that over.
Q: What happens to the player replaced by the Impact Player?
A: Once replaced, the player is no longer able to participate in the game, and cannot be utilized as a substitute fielder.
Q: Can an overseas player be named as Impact Player?
A: No, this rule applies when the playing XI already has four overseas players, in which case, only Indian players can be listed as the four Impact Players.
Q: Why is there a restriction on overseas cricketers?
A: This rule is in place to limit the number of foreign players per team in the starting lineup to four. In the event that a team starts with fewer than four overseas players, an overseas player can be selected as the Impact Player. However, he must also be included as one of the four substitutes.
Q: How many players get to bat then? 11 or more?
A: A maximum of 11 players are permitted to bat in a team. If the Impact Player chosen by the batting team is a batsman and he replaces someone who has been dismissed/retired, then one of the remaining players on the team will not be able to bat.
Q: How can the bowling team make it work?
A: When the fielding team introduces its Impact Player, they will be able to utilize his full complement of four overs regardless of the number of overs bowled by the player he is replacing. However, if the Impact Player is brought in during an ongoing over, he will have to wait until the end of that over to start bowling.
Q: Can a delayed start affect the Impact Player rule?
A: The IPL governing council has stated that the Impact Player rule will remain unchanged if the match’s total overs are less than 20 overs per innings due to a delayed start, and can be used at any point during the match.
Q: How does it differ from the BBL’s ‘X-factor sub’?
A: In the case of the ‘X-factor sub’, both teams have the option to replace a player from the 12th and 13th player named on the team list. The ‘X-factor sub’ can be brought into the game after the 10th over and replace any player who hasn’t batted yet or bowled no more than one over for the fielding team. This rule doesn’t have any restrictions regarding the nationality of the player.