The concept of Impact Player, one of the key rules to be adopted in this season of the Indian Premier League, was explained by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday, ahead of IPL 2023. The IPL 2023 auction will be held in Kochi on December 23.
Earlier, the BCCI stated: “From IPL 2023 Season, a tactical/strategic concept will be introduced to add a new dimension to IPL, wherein one substitute player per team will be able to take a more active part in an IPL match.”
According to a report on the Cricbuzz website, the BCCI recently wrote to all of the teams and stated that each of the 10 franchises (teams) may have an impact player, who must be an Indian player and cannot come from another nation unless there are less than “4 overseas stars” in the playing XI.
“Only an overseas player who is part of 4 substitutes named in the team sheet can be used as an Impact Player. If a team introduces an overseas player as an Impact Player in a match, in no circumstance can a 5th overseas player take the field,” the BCCI note quoted by Cricbuzz website stated.
IPL 2023: BCCI’s rules about Impact Player
- The Impact Player can only nominate by the team’s captain.
- Unless there are less than 4 foreign players in the playing XI, an impact player can only be an Indian player.
- The Impact Player may be introduced either before the innings begin or following the conclusion of an over.
- A batsman has the option of retiring at any point throughout the over or bringing in an impact player upon the wicket’s fall.
- Players who are replaced by Impact Players are not allowed to participate in the rest of the game or come back as substitute fielders.
- The Impact Player may take on any function during the match, however the BCCI made it clear that they cannot serve as captain.
- The same rule will apply when an Impact Player is used by a team and gets hurt, just like it does when it’s actually playing.
- A substitute fielder may take the field in lieu of an injured player if the umpires are satisfied that the fielder has been hurt or gets ill during the game. The replacement is not allowed to bowl or serve as captain.
- At the time of the toss, teams are required by the BCCI to declare their starting XI and four replacements. Only one of the four substitutes listed on the squad sheet can be utilised as an impact player.
- The bowling team can also add an impact player after the wicket has fallen, however if the wicket has already fallen in the middle of the over, that impact player will not be allowed to bowl the remaining balls of the over.
- Each match allows for the use of one Impact Player for each team. However, it is not required. Teams can decide whether or not to use the Impact Player.
