Sat, May 10, 2025 | Updated 2:47AM IST

IPL Renewed

Times of Bennett | Updated: Mar 29, 2023 12:51
article image
By Ishita Kapoor
With its enduring popularity since its beginning in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has altered cricket's playing style throughout the past ten years. And now there is more to add to it.

This season's IPL novelty, the "Impact Player" replacement, is going to effectively turn T20s into a 12-player game. Five foreign players are not permitted in a match, hence the sole substitute player allowed is an Indian player.

If the team chooses to start with less than 4 players in the starting Eleven, a foreign player may only enter as the substitute. Another development is that the captains may provide two team lists at the coin toss and decide on the lineup based on the outcome of the toss. Only one of the four names on each sheet may be utilized as an "Impact Player" replacement over the game's duration.

Well, I personally think it is a fantastic opportunity for the senior players. For example, Amit Mishra of the Delhi Capitals or Piyush Chawla of Mumbai Indians. At this point in their careers, they might not be the most agile players on the pitch and might have trouble swinging the bat. Yet they are aware that they can come in late, bowl their four overs, and leave the game by using their primary skill, leg spin. Anrich Nortje (DC), a South African pacer who has battled with his fitness, is able to enter the game, bowl briefly, and then leave.

In T20 cricket, the toss has historically had a significant impact. Teams' late inning have always had the edge because of the shorter format, especially when dew is a factor. The toss has previously had a significant impact on T20 cricket, but now the team fielding second can use the additional bowler as a backup.

It is undeniable that the unpredictable nature that is so essential to the game of cricket suffers, but with this adjustment, clubs that have lost main players prior to the IPL would benefit. The Mumbai Indians, who missed Jasprit Bumrah, might start with three international players, and then substitute a left-arm pacer like Jason Behrendorff for an Indian batter in the middle innings.

But everyone agrees that it is difficult to determine which teams might benefit the most until the competition begins. The think tanks will carefully consider it, analyze the Specific circumstances, and make judgements based on each individual game.