Virat Kohli urges rethink of ‘Impact Player’ rule: ‘I’ve never experienced anything like it’ | Ipl News

Virat Kohli completely agrees with Rohit Sharma on the ‘Impact Player’ rule and as a batsman, he feels that the game has lost its balance in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“I agree with Rohit. Entertainment is one aspect of the game but there is no balance,” Kohli said on Jio Cinema.
Last month, India skipper Rohit Sharma, while speaking to Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchr’s YouTube show ‘Club Prairie Fire’ has mentioned that he is “not a big fan” of the IPL’s ‘Impact Player’ rule as he feels it is hurting the country’s all-rounders not allowing cricketers like Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube to showcase their bowling prowess.
‘There is no balance’
Virat Kohli, too, has joined the bandwagon saying that the bowlers are facing the brunt because of this rule.
“Bowlers are feeling like what they should do,” he said.
“I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede four or a six on every ball.
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“We are playing a high level of cricket and it should not be that dominant in my opinion. There is a beauty about having an equal balance between bat and ball,” he added.
‘Not everyone has Bumrah and Rashid’
Kohli says the extra batter has helped him score freely in the powerplay and also explains why every team is struggling to defend even a big total.
“Not every team has a Bumrah (Jasprit) or the mystery of Rashid Khan,” he said.
“I am telling you, with one extra batter there is a reason I am playing with 200 plus strike rate in the powerplays. I know there is a batsman waiting at No 8 as well.
“I think it has disrupted the balance and a lot of people are feeling this way not just me,” he said.
‘BCCI must take a call’
BCCI secretary Jay Shah has said that the Impact Player rule is not permanent and a call on its use in subsequent editions of the IPL will be taken after a discussion with stakeholders after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli plays a shot during an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 T20 cricket match between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, at HPCA Stadium, in Dharamshala, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (PTI Photo/Ravi Choudhary)
“Impact Player is like a test case. We have implemented it slowly. The biggest advantage of it is that two Indian players are getting a chance (in each game), which is the most important,” Shah told reporters earlier this month.
“We will consult with the players, franchises, broadcasters and take a call. This is not permanent but I am not saying that it will go,” he said.
Kohli has opined that this Impact Player rule must be removed so that bowlers can have a role in the game as well.
“I am sure Jay bhai has mentioned it already that they will review it and I am sure that they will come to a conclusion which brings the game into balance,” said Kohli.
“As a batsman, I can say this rule is good but the match should be exciting. Only fours and sixes are not exciting in cricket. Exciting is that you can defend 160 as well,” he added.
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