Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have spoken against the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute anyone in the playing XI with one of the five listed substitutes at any point of the match. The rule was introduced in 2023 and will stay until at least 2027.
In 2024, Rohit had said that he was not a fan of the strategic rule saying it hampered the development of all-rounders in Indian cricket while the following season, Hardik said it had become to difficult pick an all-rounder in the side unless he was equally good with both bat and ball.
Responding to a question on his views on the rule, the Indian T20 vice-captain echoed the concerns of his Indian teammates.
“I don’t like this rule as I am all rounder myself (laughs). Earlier we used to pick all-rounders for this role (batting and bowling). Now, since the team management goes with a particular batter or bowler, the role of an all-rounder becomes subdued. Rules are rules and we have to follow them, but personally I don’t like it,” said Axar.
Axar bowled only 204 balls in the last IPL season compared to 264 balls a season earlier. He said it was not because of the Impact Player rule, but a finger injury that had bothered him leading up to the IPL.
“I did not bowl a lot. It wasn’t because of Impact Player. After the Champions Trophy, my spinning finger got cut. After that it got worse because of the seam of the ball. Later, it developed into a deep cut, I was not able to apply pressure and rotation on the ball.
“That is why I was bowling only when required and nursing my finger. After seven games, it became better and I bowled frequently,” said Axar, who will lead the DC for the second time in its quest for its maiden IPL title.
Published on Mar 23, 2026
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