Overview
- On Saturday, October 10, 2026, former India batter Ajinkya Rahane told Cricbuzz he wants the Impact Player rule scrapped because it reduces chances for all‑rounders and can decisively change match outcomes.
- Also on October 10, 2026, Dinesh Karthik said the rule should stay for the 2027 season because teams built their 12‑player strategies around it and removing it mid‑cycle would be unfair.
- The Impact Player rule was introduced ahead of the 2023 IPL season and remains formally in place under guidelines that run through the current IPL cycle ending in 2027.
- Critics say the rule lets franchises substitute batters for bowlers or vice versa to rescue poor positions, which lowers demand for genuine all‑rounders and narrows India’s pipeline of multi‑skill players.
- No governing‑body decision has been announced and any change would likely be taken by the IPL/BCCI at a cycle boundary, a choice that would shape squad construction and player development ahead of the next auction.