Karthik and Rahane clash over IPL Impact Player rule

Dinesh Karthik supports keeping the Indian Premier League’s Impact Player rule through the current cycle, while Ajinkya Rahane has called for it to be abolished, setting out opposing views as the league’s rules remain in force through 2027. Both have said the rule affects the development of allrounders, but the IPL has not announced whether it will change the regulation or when any change would take effect. Karthik, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s batting coach and mentor, said removing the rule midway through a cycle would be unfair to franchises that assembled their squads with it in mind. He argued that new regulations should be introduced at the start of a cycle and discontinued only after it ends. He also acknowledged that the rule has reduced opportunities to develop Indian allrounders and said its initial appeal had diminished. Rahane has taken the opposite position, saying the rule should be removed because it limits the role of players who contribute with both bat and ball. He said most captains opposed it before a captains’ meeting last year. That account is Rahane’s description of the captains’ views; the reports do not include statements from the other captains.