The Impact Player rule has been the most controversial rule in the history of the Indian Premier League since its implementation in IPL 2023.
This rule was first tried in domestic cricket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022 and then brought to the IPL. The impact player rule allows teams to substitute one of their 11 players for the 12th man on the bench once during a match. After criticism from fans and players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has removed this rule from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to be held in 2024.
Before the start of this season, the BCCI held the annual IPL captains’ meeting, where it was confirmed that this rule would remain in place until at least 2027.
The most visible effect (no pun intended) of this rule is the development or lack of all-rounders. The rule allows teams to basically choose an extra batsman and then swap him for a bowler if they are bowling first or vice versa. This rule has made it difficult for all-rounders to get selected in the playing eleven or showcase their skills effectively.
Apart from fans, many players have also criticized this rule. Both Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel have said that this rule is hindering the development of all-rounders. Mohammed Siraj attributed this rule to the trend of higher scores in every IPL season. And Shubman Gill has said that this rule turns the IPL into a 12-vs-12 instead of the classic 11-vs-11 game of cricket.
In this article, we’ll take a look at five players whose development has been affected due to the Impact Player Rule
Impact Player Rules in IPL 2026: List of Cricketers to be Impacted
Venkatesh Iyer
Iyer made his IPL debut in 2021, representing Kolkata Knight Riders. Along with his strong batting skills, his medium pace balls impressed everyone.
At the time, Hardik Pandya – India’s premier fast bowling all-rounder – was battling injuries that were not allowing him to bowl. It is believed that Iyer’s medium pace provided a solution to this problem.
In 2021, Iyer made his T20I debut for India and has performed quite well in his 9 matches between then and 2022. In 9 matches, Iyer took 5 wickets at a bowling average of 15.
But in the IPL, it has been a different story. Since the Impact Player’s introduction in 2023, Iyer has bowled just one over in four seasons. In the 2024 season, Rishabh Pant scored 28 runs in an over on his medium pace balls.
However, in domestic cricket, Iyer has been bowling semi-regularly, taking 19 wickets in 28 matches, including 6 wickets in SMAT since 2022.
Venkatesh Iyer joined RCB in IPL 2025 but he has played only one match. RCB is giving importance to the batting of Devdutt Padikkal as well as the all-round skills of Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya. In the one match where he played, Iyer was brought in as an impact player to save the batting collapse, but he did not bowl.
RCB’s usual strategy of using their impact players like Devdutt Padikkal in place of leg spinner Suyyash Sharma or vice versa has mostly kept Iyer out of the playing XI.
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma is more famous for being a brilliant batsman who is one of the best batsmen in the world in this format. Last year, he became the No. 1 ranked batsman in the ICC T20I rankings and also broke the world record for the highest peak rating.
Amidst all this, Abhishek’s left-arm spin has flown under the radar. He debuted in 2018 as a lower-order batsman who could move his arm up a bit, and he got consistent chances in the IPL.
Ahead of the 2023 season, Abhishek bowled 26 overs in 36 matches and took 7 wickets. Since 2023, the corresponding number is 32.5 in 48 matches, but only 4 wickets have been taken. Technically, it is true that he has bowled more in the Impact Player era, but his bowling returns have become worse than before.
In 2025, he bowled 11 overs at an economy of 10.18 and did not take any wicket. In 2026, he has bowled 2.5 overs at an economy of 12.35 without taking any wicket. Compare this with his bowling returns for India since his T20I debut in June 2024.
For the national team, Abhishek has bowled 27.3 overs in 46 matches and taken 7 wickets. Most of Abhishek’s bowling has come when India have almost sealed victory, but he still gets chances which he doesn’t necessarily get in the IPL.
However, in domestic cricket, bowling opportunities have been stable and so have the returns. Since 2022, Abhishek Sharma has bowled 87 overs for 27 wickets in 33 matches.
Prashant Veer
Prashant Veer made headlines ahead of IPL 2026 when he became the joint-most expensive uncapped player in the history of the tournament. Chennai Super Kings noticed his long sixes and poor bowling in the UPT20 league and spent Rs 14.20 crore for him in the auction.
Unfortunately, CSK’s usage of Weer has left much to be desired for both him and the management. Before coming to IPL, Veer had taken 12 wickets in 9 matches in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at an average of 16.67 and economy of 6.45.
He has played two matches in IPL 2026 and has not bowled in even one. Against Punjab Kings, Veer scored 6 runs in 7 balls and played no role with the ball. CSK included Karthik Sharma in place of Rahul Chahar, in which Rahul Chahar gave 46 runs in 4 wicketless overs.
Against RCB, Veer once again remained a mute spectator as the defending champions scored 250 runs. Veer impressed with the bat in that match, scoring 43 runs off 29 balls, but has not played since.
Shivam Dubey
Veer’s teammate at CSK has also had to suffer the consequences of the impact player rule and not bowling enough in the IPL. Dubey made his IPL debut with RCB in 2019 as a hard-hitter who could bowl the heavy ball repeatedly.
Ahead of 2023, Dubey bowled 17.4 overs and took 4 wickets in 35 matches – all in the 2020 season.
In 2023, the first year the impact rule was legalised, he did not bowl at all in the IPL. Since 2024, he has bowled a total of 5 overs for CSK in the IPL, taking only 2 wickets. His bowling load and numbers are much better for both India and his home team, Mumbai.
Since 2022, he has bowled 54.4 overs in 27 matches and taken 17 wickets. Even for India in T20Is, Dubey has been used as a very reliable sixth or seventh bowler since his comeback in 2023. In this period, he has bowled 65.5 overs in 51 matches and taken 26 wickets.
The Impact Player rule has probably affected Dubey the most out of all the players as he plays the role of a de facto sixth bowler for India in T20Is.
jacob bethel
RCB’s strong belief in the core team that will win the championship in IPL 2025 means that Jacob Bethel is also sitting on the bench doing nothing. In 2025, Bethel played only 2 matches due to the unavailability of Phil Salt.
Despite having good all-around skills and above-average ability with the ball, Bethel has not been given any opportunity in IPL 2026. After Romario Shepherd’s poor form, there are calls from all sides to include Bethel in RCB’s playing XI.
The Impact Player rule does not allow bringing in foreign players unless there are less than four foreign players in the starting eleven. This means that RCB have prioritized the batting of Tim David and the all-round skills of Romario Shepherd this year.
Last year, when David was injured for the final stages of the tournament, RCB went back to the already ruled out Liam Livingstone for the playoffs instead of bringing in Bethel.
Also Read: “Romario Shepherd won’t play” – Ravichandran Ashwin predicts Jacob Bethel’s inclusion in RCB XI vs GT
