Keiron Pollard (Screengrab/X) The debate over the Impact Player rule in the IPL continues to gather steam, with Kieron Pollard adding his voice to the growing criticism. Pollard, who is currently the batting coach of the Mumbai Indians, made his stance clear, admitting: “If you ask me personally whether I like it or not, I can say straight away: I’m not a fan.” The former MI all-rounder, who has been associated with the IPL since the 2010 season in various capacities, felt that the Impact Player option leaves the skills of the all-rounders underutilised, which in turn could impact international teams. He pointed out that the rule allows teams to rotate players based on match situations, often sidelining the role of versatile players. According to Pollard, this shift could have a ripple effect on international cricket, where such flexibility does not exist.“As far as getting rid of it, it’s out of my pay grade, per se. But like I said, it definitely pushed the scores up in T20 cricket. Has it had the same impact in international cricket? I haven’t really looked into it in detail because it’s a different dynamic – if you lose a couple of wickets in a league game, you still have a cushion to consolidate it, it’s that good.” television, or simply beneficial to individuals, with the Impact Player rule there are certain skill sets that may not be fully utilized in international cricket. Pollard said according to Cricbuzz. Pollard’s concerns echo sentiments expressed by several top cricketers. Axar Patel has openly stated that this rule undermines the importance of all-rounders as teams now prefer specialists instead. Shubman Gill also criticized the concept, arguing that it makes the game more one-dimensional and less competitive, especially when running.Senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni have also expressed reservations about the rule at various times.The Impact Player rule, introduced in 2023, has undeniably contributed to higher scores and more aggressive play in the IPL. However, despite the criticism, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and IPL authorities have indicated after recent discussions with team management that the rule will remain in place for at least another season.
