Shamik Chakrabarty in Chennai
Arun Dhumal, the IPL chairman, stopped short of saying that the Impact Player Rule would be persisted with. But he extended his support to the Rule that has sharply divided opinion. There’s a school of thought that apart from the Rule, which was introduced last year, being harsh on the bowlers, it is also preventing the development of Indian all-rounders.
“Is the responsibility of developing all-rounders (lies) only on this tournament?” Dhumal asked, as he spoke to RevSportz on the eve of the IPL final. “The BCCI is conducting more than 2,000 cricket matches in a year, where the players get the opportunities to showcase their talent. The Vijay Hazare Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, U-16, U-19… There are so many tournaments. And if you see, all the best all-rounders are still part of the team. So, you have to raise your benchmark as an all-rounder to be part of the team.”
Former and current players, including India captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, have criticised the Impact Player Rule, suggesting that it is upsetting the balance of the game. Dhumal, though, threw his weight behind it.
“I can’t understand what this chat is all about. Do they want impact players without any impact, or little impact, or significant impact? You can’t have an impact player making no impact,” Dhumal said tongue in cheek.
So, going ahead, will the Impact Player Rule stay? “That we will discuss with all the stakeholders. Will see their feedback and point of views also. And what works best for the tournament, in the interest of the players and franchises, we will do that. In the larger interest of the game, whatever is best for the tournament, we will do that,” said Dhumal.
Both Rohit and Kohli have expressed their reservations against the Impact Player Rule. “I’m not a big fan… It’s going to hold back all-rounders. Cricket is played by 11, not 12 (players),” Rohit had said. Kohli agreed, saying: “I agree with Rohit. Entertainment is one aspect of the game but there is no balance.”
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, on the other hand, has backed the Impact Player Rule. “The Impact Player (Rule) is good. You have to evolve with the times,” Shastri told Ravichandran Ashwin on the latter’s YouTube channel. “I think it’s a good rule. You saw the number of tight finishes we had in last year’s IPL. So, you know, it has made a big difference.”
Dhumal, meanwhile, expressed his disappointment over the England players leaving the IPL early this term and ensured that it wouldn’t happen in the future. “They had a bilateral commitment, so they had to leave early. I hope that this kind of situation will never come up in the future.”
Jos Buttler & Co left the IPL to play a home T20I series against Pakistan, as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. And their respective franchises missed them in the playoffs.
Organising this IPL, which clashed with the general elections, was a challenge for the BCCI and the cricket board has passed the test with flying colours. “Very satisfying for everyone in the team. It was a herculean task to get it done amidst the elections. About 90 crore people were going to cast their votes in this festival of democracy, but the way IPL has been conducted smoothly, with very little alteration in the schedule, we are very, very happy,” Dhumal said.
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