The Impact Player rule might have been designed to give teams a super sub option but that it won’t always go according to plan or play to their strengths was highlighted in the 2023 IPL season opener itself on Friday.
On the face of it, Chennai Super Kings were able to make proper use of the rule, subbing a specialist batter in Ambati Rayudu with a specialist bowler in Tushar Deshpande. Rayudu scored a run-per-ball 12 but Deshpande ended up as their most expensive bowler, conceding 51 in 3.2 overs, leaving CSK heavily in the red. It ultimately played a huge part in their five-wicket loss to the holders.
Gujarat Titans, on the other hand, were forced to replace Kane Williamson with Sai Sudharshan–a batter for a batter–after the New Zealand batter injured his knee trying to save a six and still ended up winning.
Pandya had no hesitation in admitting that finding too many options was difficult to handle. “Having this impact rule makes my job difficult. I have too many options, and because of this someone will bowl less. This game I realised bowling hard lengths was the way to go, that’s why Alzarri bowled late,” the Titans captain said after the match.
“Today was an example where we were under pressure, kept looking for wickets, kept attacking. They were going past 200 I thought at one point in time. But we were able to stop them 20-25 runs short. Alzarri coming in and using his pace and bounce was good to see,” he said.
