He says the rule takes the skill out of the game, makes it one dimensional
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill has joined a growing list of Indian players questioning the Impact Player rule in the IPL, stating that it “takes the skill out of the game” and makes contests “one-dimensional”.
Gill echoed concerns raised by Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, with the majority of captains reportedly seeking a review of the rule during a recent meeting with the BCCI in Mumbai. Introduced in 2023 and extended till 2027, the rule allows teams to field an extra batter or bowler during a match.
“Personally for me, I don’t think there should be an impact player. I think cricket in general is an 11 players’ game and on wickets where we play on the grounds that we play, adding an extra batsman is I think it takes the skill out of the game,” said Gill, who leads India in Tests and ODIs.
“There’s a certain skill in the game that you need to have. When you have a certain amount of batters and if a couple of your batters get out, there’s an amount of skill that you need to have to still get the scoreboard moving and get your team to a good score.
“With that one extra player, it’s making the game more one-dimensional and it’s taking a little bit of the skill out of the game,” he added.
Despite his reservations, Gill conceded that the decision rests with the BCCI and will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
On a separate note, the India Test and ODI captain asserted that he has “nothing to prove” in the upcoming IPL season despite being left out of the T20 World Cup squad. Highlighting his consistent run-scoring record over the past few seasons, Gill said his focus remains on maintaining standards and helping Gujarat Titans stay competitive.
Having taken over the captaincy from Hardik Pandya ahead of the 2024 season, Gill expressed confidence that sustained consistency would eventually lead the franchise to another title.
