The Impact Player rule has been the most controversial rule in the history of the Indian Premier League since it was introduced in IPL 2023.
The rule was first tried in domestic cricket in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022 and then brought into the IPL. The Impact Player rule allows teams to substitute one of their 11 players for a 12th one on the bench once during the course of a match. After criticism from fans and players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) removed this rule from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2024.
Before the start of this season, the BCCI held the yearly IPL captains' meet, where it was confirmed that the rule will stay until at least 2027.
The most visible impact (pun not intended) of this rule is the development or lack of all-rounders. The rule allows teams to pick an extra batter originally and then swap him out for a bowler or vice-versa if they're bowling first. This rule has made it harder for all-rounders to be picked in the XI or showcase their skills effectively.
Apart from fans, many players have also criticised this rule. Both Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel have said that this rule is hindering the development of all-rounders. Mohammed Siraj blamed this rule for the trend of higher and higher scores in every IPL season. And Shubman Gill has stated that the rule turns the IPL into a 12-vs-12 rather than a classic 11-vs-11 game of cricket.
In this article, we will take a look at five players whose development has been hurt because of the Impact Player rule
Impact Player Rule in IPL 2026: List Of Cricketers Being Affected
Iyer made his IPL debut in 2021 while representing Kolkata Knight Riders. Alongside his strong batting skills, his medium pace deliveries had everyone going gaga over him.
At the time, Hardik Pandya - India's premier pace bowling all-rounder - was struggling with injuries that weren't allowing him to bowl. Iyer's medium pace supposedly presented a solution to this problem.
In 2021, Iyer made his T20I debut for India and did reasonably well in his 9 matches between then and 2022. Across 9 matches, Iyer took 5 wickets at a bowling average of 15.
But in the IPL, it has been a different story. Since the introduction of the Impact Player in 2023, Iyer has bowled just one over in four seasons. In the 2024 season, his medium pace deliveries were smashed for 28 runs in one over by Rishabh Pant.
In domestic cricket, though, Iyer has been bowling semi-regularly, taking 19 wickets in 28 matches, including a 6-wicket haul in the SMAT since 2022.
In IPL 2025, Venkatesh Iyer joined RCB but has played only one match. RCB have been preferring the all-round skills of Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya alongside the batting of Devdutt Padikkal. In the one match where he did play, Iyer was brought in as the Impact Player to save a batting collapse but did not bowl.
RCB's usual strategy of using their Impact Player to substitute Devdutt Padikkal for leg spinner Suyash Sharma or vice-versa has mostly kept Iyer out of the playing XII.
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma is more famous for being a swashbuckling batsman who is one of the best in the world at this format. Last year, he became the No. 1-ranked batter in the ICC's T20I rankings and also broke the world record for the highest peak rating.
Between all of this, Abhishek's left-arm spin has flown under the radar. He debuted in 2018 as a lower-order batter who could roll his arm over a little, and got consistent chances in the IPL.
Before the 2023 season, Abhishek bowled 26 overs in 36 matches and took 7 wickets. Since 2023, the corresponding numbers are 32.5 in 48 matches, but only taken 4 wickets. Technically, it is true that he has bowled more in the Impact Player era, but his bowling returns have worsened since before.
In 2025, he bowled 11 overs at an economy of 10.18 and did not take any wickets. In 2026, he has bowled 2.5 overs at an economy of 12.35 without taking any wickets. Compare that to his bowling returns for India since making his T20I debut in June 2024.
For the national side, Abhishek has bowled 27.3 overs in 46 matches, taking 7 wickets. Most of Abhishek's bowling has been delivered when India have all but confirmed the win, but he still gets opportunities that he doesn't necessarily get in the IPL.
In domestic cricket, though, the bowling opportunities have been steady and so have the returns. Since 2022, Abhishek Sharma has bowled 87 overs in 33 matches for 27 wickets.
Prashant Veer made headlines ahead of IPL 2026 when he became the joint-most-expensive uncapped player in tournament history. Chennai Super Kings saw his long sixes and miserly bowling in the UPT20 league and shelled out INR 14.20 crore for him at the auction.
Unfortunately, CSK's usage of Veer has left a lot to be desired both from him and the management. Before he came into the IPL, Veer had taken 12 wickets in 9 matches at an average of 16.67 and an economy of 6.45 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
In IPL 2026, he has played two matches and not bowled in either. Against the Punjab Kings, Veer made 6 runs in 7 balls and played no part with the ball. CSK substituted Kartik Sharma for Rahul Chahar, with the latter going for 46 runs in 4 wicketless overs.
Veer was then once again a silent spectator against RCB as the defending champions smashed 250. Veer impressed with the bat in that match, making 43 runs off 29 balls, but hasn't played since.
Shivam Dube
Veer's teammate at CSK has also suffered through the Impact Player Rule and not bowling enough in the IPL. Dube made his IPL debut with RCB in 2019 with a reputation for being a hard-hitter who could bowl a heavy ball every once and again.
Before 2023, Dube bowled 17.4 overs across 35 matches and took 4 wickets - all of them in the 2020 season.
In 2023, the first year of the Impact Rule being valid, he did not bowl at all in the IPL. Since 2024, he has bowled a total of 5 overs for CSK in the IPL, taking only 2 wickets. His bowling load and numbers are much better for both India and his domestic team, Mumbai.
Since 2022, he has bowled 54.4 overs in 27 matches and has taken 17 wickets. Even for India in T20Is, Dube has been used as a very reliable sixth or seventh bowler since his comeback in 2023. In this period, he has bowled 65.5 overs in 51 matches and has taken 26 wickets.
The Impact Player rule has probably affected Dube, of all players, the most since he plays the role of a genuine sixth bowler for India in T20Is
Jacob Bethell
RCB's rigid belief in the core team that won them the championship in IPL 2025 has meant that Jacob Bethell, too, has been sitting on the bench without doing much. In 2025, Bethell played just 2 matches due to the unavailability of Phil Salt.
Despite possessing decent all-around skills and an above-average potency with the ball, Bethell hasn't been given any opportunities in IPL 2026. After Romario Shepherd's poor form, there have been calls from all quarters to include Bethell in RCB's playing XII.
The Impact Player rule does not allow overseas players to be brought in unless the starting XI contains fewer than four overseas players. This has meant RCB have preferred the batting of Tim David and the all-round skills of Romario Shepherd this year.
Last year, when David was injured for the final stages of the tournament, RCB went back to a previously dropped Liam Livingstone for the playoffs rather than bring Bethell in.
Also Read: "Romario Shepherd won’t play” - Ravichandran Ashwin predicts Jacob Bethell's inclusion in the RCB XI vs GT
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