Ashwin Defends IPL Impact Player Rule

The Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), introduced in 2023, allows teams to substitute a player during their innings, sparking diverse opinions. While senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma criticize it for hampering the development of all-rounders, supporters like Ravichandran Ashwin and Zaheer Khan argue it adds strategic depth and fairness to the game. Ashwin highlighted that the rule doesn't prevent all-rounders from excelling, citing examples like Venkatesh Iyer and Shahbaz Ahmed. According to Ashwin, the rule offers opportunities for innovation and has even helped players like Dhruv Jurel advance to the national team. Despite the mixed reactions, the rule has significantly influenced IPL's gameplay and team dynamics.