"If an all-rounder wants to find a place, he has to raise the bar" - IPL chairman Arun Dhumal backs Impact player rule
Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has backed the use of the Impact Player in the T20 league. Dismissing the argument that the rule takes all-rounders out of the equation, he pointed out to the success of players like Sunil Narine and Ravindra Jadeja.
The use of the Impact Player rule in the IPL has been a topic of much debate over the last few months. Even India's Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma has expressed reservations about the modification introduced in the cash-rich T20 league during the 2023 season.
On Saturday, September 28, the BCCI confirmed that the Impact Player rule will continue to be part of the IPL till 2027. In an interview to The Indian Express, the league's chairman, Dhumal, defended the rule and commented:
"Impact players have added value to the tournament. If you see the last season, the scores we had were phenomenal compared to the previous season. The idea is to give a platform to an additional batter or a bowler, so that they can perform with their skillset.
"One argument was the all-rounders are missing out. But if you look at it closely, all the top class all-rounders were never left out. Be it Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) or (Sunil) Narine, be it anyone. If an all-rounder wants to find a place, he has to raise the bar as an all-rounder," he added.
As per reports, there were mixed views among franchises over the Impact Player rule during the July 31 meeting between IPL owners and the BCCI in Mumbai.
"The idea is to derive maximum benefit to our players" - Dhumal on match fee being introduced in the IPL
One of the major announcements made while confirming player regulations for the 2025-2027 period was the introduction of the match fee. Each player will now get ₹7.5 lakh per match in addition to his contract amount. Asked about the same, Dhumal explained to The Indian Express:
"We have seen in the past seasons that at times players get picked for a smaller amount but once he gets an opportunity, he performs exceedingly well and continues to play the entire tournament. For such a player, it makes sense that even if they get picked for a lesser amount during the auction, they get a respectable amount.
"So the idea is to derive the maximum benefit to our players, who are the most important stakeholders of this league," he concluded.
On expected lines, Dhumal and Dhumal and Avishek Dalmiya were elected to the IPL Governing Council as general body representatives during BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, September 29.