Before the IPL 2026 final between RCB and GT, Sachin Tendulkar shared his thoughts on the controversial Impact Player rule. He expressed concern that this rule heavily favors batters.
“I believe the impact player should be removed. In T20 Cricket, with only 20 overs, adding another batter shifts the balance too much towards batting,” Tendulkar stated at the ESPNcricinfo awards for the top International cricketers of the 21st century. “Bowlers are facing more challenges, which leads to an imbalance in the game.”
The Impact Player rule was introduced in IPL 2023, allowing teams to substitute one player from a list of five reserves not included in the starting XI. This has led to increased scoring rates, giving bowlers less room for mistakes.
Tendulkar’s suggestions for balance
Tendulkar outlined two significant changes to create a fairer environment between batters and bowlers in T20 matches.
First, he recommended splitting the six-over powerplay into two segments: one for batting and the other for bowling. The batting team would keep a four-over powerplay with two fielders outside the circle. The remaining two overs would be a bowling powerplay, decided by the fielding captain, allowing three boundary riders.
“In the six-over powerplay, only two fielders can be outside the circle. Let the batting team have their four-over powerplay with the same field rules. For the last two overs, the fielding captain can choose when to use them, and they can have one additional fielder outside the ring. This way, the fielding side can manage the game better,” he explained.
Secondly, Tendulkar suggested allowing one bowler to bowl a maximum of five overs in a T20 innings. He argued that if the top batters can potentially face most of the 20 overs, the best bowlers should have the same chance to demonstrate their skills.
“One bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. The best bowler often plays a crucial role, so wouldn’t it be better to see them bowl more? If top batters can play nearly all the overs, the best bowlers should have the opportunity to bowl five overs,” he noted.
By allowing a single bowler to bowl longer spells, Tendulkar believes it could help bridge the gap between batting strength and bowling capability.