‘Lot of fit players just bat and sit down’: IPL legend slams Impact Player rule

Former India cricket star Suresh Raina has criticized the new Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), arguing that it has led to inflated scores and put undue pressure on bowlers. Raina, who played throughout his successful career in the IPL before the rule's inception in 2023, believes the additional batting options have inflated the strike rates of teams.

Since the rule's introduction, the batting strike rates have surged past the 150 mark, making it increasingly difficult for bowlers to perform. Raina, speaking on a podcast with fellow former India player Aakash Chopra, expressed his opposition to the Impact Player rule, stating that many fit players are simply batting and then sitting down, leaving no room for bowlers to rest or strategize.

He further highlighted that the requirement for Indian players to forego opportunities in overseas T20 leagues has allowed foreign players to flood into the IPL, potentially degrading the quality of cricket being played in India. Raina, who is considered one of the highest run-scorers in IPL history, played 228 matches, scoring 5,528 runs, and was a three-time IPL champion with Chennai Super Kings.