LPL to use Impact Player rule and Under-23 mandate in 2026

The Lanka Premier League will introduce the Impact Player rule for its upcoming 2026 season, becoming the second major T20 franchise competition after the Indian Premier League to adopt the regulation. The league will also implement a new mandate requiring each team to field at least one player under the age of 23 in every playing eleven.

The rule changes were confirmed ahead of the league's player draft, which took place in Colombo on Monday. All five franchises reportedly agreed to the introduction of the Impact Player provision. Under this rule, teams name a starting eleven and a list of substitute options before a match. They are then permitted to substitute one player from the original lineup with another from the bench at designated moments, such as the start of an innings, after a wicket falls, or at the start of a new over.

The new Under-23 mandate applies to players born on or after July 1, 2003. This requirement must be maintained even after utilizing an impact substitution, meaning a team cannot replace its designated young player with an older substitute. The rule presented a strategic challenge for teams during the draft, as they balanced squad construction around...