In his latest YouTube video, Aakash Chopra has attempted to explain whether the BCCI is actually benefiting from the impact player rule. The rule was introduced in the IPL last year after a brief experiment in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament before the IPL.

At the last meeting between the IPL owners and the BCCI, Delhi Capitals owner Parth Jindal strongly opposed the current rule as he felt that it limited the role of Indian all-rounders, especially in the tournament. Indian captain Rohit Sharma also shared his opinion on this new innovation during the tournament itself. He too was against it as he felt that it did not allow Indian all-rounders to play to their full potential.

Speaking about the rule in his latest YouTube video, Aakash Chopra said that for top-class all-rounders like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, nothing has changed in their game and approach with the Impact Player Rule coming into effect.

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He said that the players mentioned above play with the same intensity and focus and their role remains the same despite the rule that came into effect. All these players are also regular players in the XI.

However, he spoke of the positive aspect of the rule saying that it weeds out mediocre all-rounders.

In the video, he also addressed an important point regarding the impact player rule: who benefits from this? The BCCI or Indian cricket?

“If the BCCI or the governing council had allowed the impact player rule for both foreign and Indian cricketers, the standards of the IPL would have definitely improved, let’s be honest about that. In that case, five foreign players would have played instead of four. Many players who are away would have got a chance to play. But they said no and allowed only four foreign players,” Chopra said.

“The rule is limited to Indian players only. In most cases, it is an Indian player who has not played for the national team and cannot be in the starting line-up as a batsman or bowler,” Chopra added.

He also said that with the introduction of the Impact player rule, the ideal now is that 10 Indians will have the opportunity to play in the XI, which in total equates to 80 players in 10 teams.

“There are 10 teams with seven Indian players, which makes 70 players. With the eighth Indian player now being an Impact player, the result is 80 Indian players. Another 10 Indian players who have not played for the national team will get a chance. Is this right or wrong? This is the core issue of debate,” Chopra stressed.

The impact player rule should be maintained: Aakash Chopra

He concluded by saying that there are pros and cons to the rule and that he wants it to remain in place.

“The Impact player rule should still be in place. It will be decided who is the best all-round player. If you’re not a good all-round player, so be it,” Chopra concluded.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has said that they will evaluate all the points discussed in the meeting and take a decision by the end of August 2024.

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