Sachin Tendulkar urges IPL to drop Impact Player rule

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has called for major rule changes in the Indian Premier League, arguing that current regulations have created a significant imbalance favoring batters over bowlers. Speaking at an awards ceremony, Tendulkar proposed scrapping the Impact Player rule and modifying powerplay regulations to restore competitive parity.

Tendulkar explicitly stated the Impact Player rule should be removed. Introduced in 2023, the rule allows franchises to substitute any member of their starting lineup with one of five nominated players at any point in a match. Tendulkar argued this effectively adds an extra specialist batter to a lineup in a format where bowlers are already under intense pressure. He said the rule creates an imbalance by extending the batting order in a contest limited to 20 overs per side. His view aligns with criticism from other prominent figures, including current India captain Shubman Gill and former skipper Rohit Sharma, who have suggested the rule diminishes the traditional value of all-rounders.

Beyond eliminating the substitution rule, Tendulkar offered two structural proposals designed to give fielding captains more tactical control. His first...