“It has lessened the utility of all-rounders,” Venkatesh Iyer talks about Impact Player Rule in IPL 2023

“It has lessened the utility of all-rounders,” Venkatesh Iyer talks about Impact Player Rule in IPL 2023

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has spoken about the new Impact Player rule in the sixteenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Iyer, who himself has been used as an Impact Player in all five matches by KKR, has said that this new rule has lessened the utility of all-rounders. However, Iyer also admitted that this new rule has made things interesting for teams.

Notably, the Impact Player rule allows a team to bring a player onto the field whenever it wants, according to the need of the hour. Iyer has been used by KKR as an Impact Player in all of their games and it has augured well for them. Iyer ended up scoring a century in his team’s match against Mumbai Indians (MI) a few days back.

“Honestly, with the coming of the Impact Player rule, the number of overs an all-rounder is bowling has dropped down drastically. Obviously, if a team have a specialist bowler as their sixth bowler and then they don’t want to try their all-rounder. This is what the Impact Player rule has brought. It has lessened the utility of all-rounders,” Iyer told the reporters ahead of KKR’s match against Delhi Capitals.

“It’s a very interesting rule that has come into place. If you are playing in the IPL, the think tank is so big in every team that I guess they might have figured it out in the very first match itself. By now, everyone knows how to use the Impact Player. If you see the results, the Impact Players are turning out to be an X factor,” he said.

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Venkatesh ready to bowl whenever needed

venkatesh iyer bowling

Although KKR have utilized Iyer as an Impact Player, the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder is yet to bowl in IPL 2023 so far. Iyer has played as a batter so far and his coming into the tournament on the back of an injury might be a factor in this decision from the team management. However, the all-rounder said he is ready to bowl as and when needed.

“I am 100 per cent ready to bowl. I was given clearance by the NCA, and they don’t clear you unless you have recovered,” Iyer bluntly replied when queried by the reporters.

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