‘Impact’ player rule: Senior players like Mishra, Chawla and Mohit can become effective in IPL
Coaches and experts associated with various Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises feel that the new rule to have ‘impact players’ in the upcoming season could be a ‘second chance’ for some experienced players at the end of their careers. The ‘Impact’ player rule allows a team to name four such players in a squad of 15 players before a match and they can come on as a substitute at any time during the team’s innings up to the 14th over. But for this the player should be Indian, if all the four foreign players in the playing XI are there.
If there are three foreign players in the playing XI, one foreign player may come in place of the other as an ‘impact substitute’. It can be called a coincidence that four experienced Indian players have been bought at the base price of Rs 50 lakh in the auction, while the career of these Indians is almost over, in which 40-year-old Amit Mishra (166 wickets), 34-year-old Piyush Chawla (157 wickets) wickets), Mohit Sharma (92 wickets) and Ishant Sharma (84 wickets). Mishra was bought by the Lucknow Supergiants who have the coach-cum-mentor duo of Gautam Gambhir-Vijay Dahiya.
Delhi Capitals roped in Ishant and Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra decided to give him a chance after bowling with Mohit at Chennai Super Kings. Whereas Mumbai Indians bought Chawla. The domestic coach, who worked with Gambhir, told PTI on the condition of anonymity, “Amit Mishra is a great decision by Gautam and his coaching staff. You have to see his skills, he is among the top three bowlers with most wickets in IPL.
Yes, it is true that he is 40, he is not that good a fielder and can’t hit sixes at the end. But you don’t need to be included in the playing XI full-time. “If we understand Gautam, Mishra will be used as an ‘impact’ player in a few matches,” he said. Keep him in the field for eight overs when necessary. Former Indian player and expert Deep Dasgupta feels that the ‘Impact’ player rule is a boon for all the players whose IPL contracts are expiring as the demands of the game are changing now. He said, “Mumbai Indians may not need Piyush at Wankhede at all. But if they play in Chepauk then it might be needed? He can make a difference with his bowling. Dasgupta said, “This rule is such that it will bring experts into the game.
