Suresh Raina has become the latest former India cricketer to raise concerns over the impact player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), arguing that the experiment has significantly tilted the balance of the game towards batters.The former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter, who was part of four IPL-winning campaigns, believes bowlers have been particularly disadvantaged since the rule was introduced in 2023. The issue has remained a talking point among players, with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also expressing their reservations about the rule during the 2024 season.
Raina says impact player rule has made life difficult for bowlers
The impact player rule allows teams to name five substitute options after the toss, from which they can bring in one replacement at any point during the match. The teams first announce their batting and bowling XIs at the toss, while the designated replacement can be introduced after the first ball has been bowled.Raina believes the additional substitution option has played a major role in the explosion of batting in the IPL. Scores that once appeared difficult to chase have increasingly become achievable, with teams regularly crossing the 200-run mark and several 250-plus totals being recorded over the last three seasons.The trend was particularly evident during the 2024 edition, when Punjab Kings successfully chased down a target of more than 260 against Kolkata Knight Riders.Raina feels the growing emphasis on batting depth has left bowlers with fewer opportunities to influence matches.“I am against the Impact player rule. A lot of fit players also bat and just sit down. How will you improve? There is no such rule in the World Cup. I understand the entertainment factor, but there is nothing left for the bowlers. Earlier, 170 was a competitive score, but now 250 is being chased as well. Even 300 is being scored,” Raina told the former India batter, Aakash Chopra.The former India international believes the rule has also reduced the consequences of losing wickets, as teams can bring in another specialist batter when required.“Leave something for the bowlers. There is no wicket-taking option. The batters don’t get out, and with extra batters, there will be pressure on the bowlers,” he added.
Raina changes stance on Indian players in overseas leagues
Raina also addressed another long-standing debate surrounding Indian cricketers: whether they should be permitted to participate in overseas T20 leagues.The former India batter, who was part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning team, said he no longer believes there is a need for Indian players to feature in competitions such as Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL) and England’s Hundred.Raina revealed that he had previously been keen on playing in overseas leagues and had even come close to doing so. However, permission was not granted at the time.“I feel Indian players should not be allowed now. Our league has become very big. When we used to go on Australia and England tours before, I used to ask this. I had come close to playing as well, but then they said no,” said Raina.
‘We are ruling the world’: Raina backs IPL’s standing
According to Raina, the situation has changed considerably since those days. The IPL has grown into one of the biggest competitions in world cricket, while overseas leagues have increasingly relied on international players travelling to India for the tournament.He also feels the overall quality of some foreign T20 leagues has declined compared to the past, making it even less important for Indian players to gain experience abroad.“Now, a lot of outside players come here, and the quality of foreign leagues has also gone down. Back then, I would have definitely said yes. But at this time, we are ruling the world. Cricket is going somewhere else, and our team is very solid,” he added.
