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Ajinkya Rahane confirmed that most IPL captains opposed the Impact Player rule at a meeting last year, urging its removal to protect the development of all-rounders.
Former KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane.
Ajinkya Rahane has revealed that most IPL captains opposed the Impact Player rule at a meeting last year, renewing calls for its removal over concerns that it is affecting the development of all-rounders in Indian cricket. Reports on the same had come out in 2025 as well as in 2026, and some captains had publicly hinted at their opposition to the rule, but this is the first confirmation coming from someone in the meeting.
Rahane, who was leading Kolkata Knight Riders at the time, said the rule has little purpose and should be scrapped. He said he’d be watching if and when it’s removed, with the next mega auction — which forces teams to overhaul their squads — lined up for 2027, ahead of the IPL 2028 season.
“I remember last year, before the IPL captains’ meeting, most of the captains said they don’t want the impact player rule,” Rahane told Cricbuzz. “And I think the guidelines or the rules, they have it till 2027. So we don’t know if this year they will take it out or after this year (when) the big auction is coming up, in that they will take it out. But ideally, I feel there is no point or use in having an impact rule,” he added
Rahane believes the rule has reduced the need for teams to develop players capable of contributing with both bat and ball, despite all-rounders being crucial to India’s requirements.
“All-rounders are going out of the game, especially in the IPL. And I am a firm believer that you’ve got to develop your all-rounders. From the Indian team’s point of view, all-rounders are really important. So the impact player rule should be taken out,” he said.
India have faced challenges in finding adequate cover for Hardik Pandya during his recent bout with injuries, with Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy among the alternatives, although neither offers the same overall skill set.
Rahane also argued that the rule gives batting sides an additional option to recover from difficult positions, often reducing the advantage for bowlers.
He cited instances from last season when teams recovered from being reduced to around 90/7 or 100/7 to post totals of 200, partly because of the extra batter available through the substitution.
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Ask News18Ajinkya Rahane revealed that most IPL captains opposed the Impact Player rule at a captains’ meeting, calling for its complete removal. He noted that the leaders felt the rule has little purpose and harms the development of all-rounders.
Ask News18October 10, 2026, 17:06 IST
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