"I’ve never experienced something like this" - Virat Kohli on bowlers being helpless in IPL 2024 due to Impact Player rule
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli recently shared his take on the use of the Impact Player rule in the ongoing IPL 2024. He stated that he had never seen bowlers being so helpless.
The former RCB skipper pointed out that with teams having the advantage of having an extra batter due to the Impact Player rule, bowlers are now scared that every ball they bowl could produce a boundary. Kohli opined that it has disrupted the balance of the game.
Echoing the same sentiments as ex- Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Rohit Sharma about the rule, Kohli said during an interview with Jio Cinema:
"I agree with him (Rohit Sharma). You see in this IPL, entertainment is on one side, but the bowlers have become completely helpless. I've never experienced something like this where the bowlers feel every ball could go for four or six. This is like a very high level of cricket. It should not be that dominant, in my opinion. There is beauty in having an equal battle between bat and ball."
Highlighting how not all teams have the luxury of playing with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Rashid Khan, Kohli suggested that a lot of people aren't happy to see so many run fests.
"Not every team has Jasprit Bumrah or Rashid Khan. With one extra batter, there is a reason why I'm playing with a 200-plus strike rate in the powerplay. I know that even the No. 8 will be a batter, so there's no problem. I think that is disrupting the balance, and it's not just me, a lot of people are feeling this way," he added.
It is worth mentioning that RCB had the record of registering the highest-ever total in the league's history ahead of the ongoing edition. The side scored 263/5 against the now-defunct Pune Warriors India in 2013.
However, with the impact player rule, the 263-run mark has been breached four times so far in IPL 2024, with SunRisers Hyderabad's (SRH) 287-run total being the highest.
"Just fours and sixes aren't exciting, defending 160 is also exciting" - Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli seemed hopeful of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reviewing the Impact Player rule and changing it to make it an even contest between bat and ball.
He noted how BCCI secretary Jay Shah has also hinted about doing so shortly. Kohli remarked that while the rule favours him, allowing him to bat with more freedom, he wants it to be changed as it could kill the excitement of the game, elaborating:
"Jay bhai has mentioned already that they will review it and I'm sure it will come to a conclusion which brings the game into balance. Being a batter, I can speak in favour of the rule, but am myself telling that the match should be exciting. Just fours and sixes aren't exciting, defending 160 is also exciting."
Virat Kohli will be seen in action on Saturday, May 18, when RCB lock horns with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The result of the contest will determine which will be the fourth and final team to qualify for the playoffs.