The debate regarding the impact player rule in the Indian Premier League continues to intensify. Kieron Pollard It has become the latest prominent name to express its concerns. The batting coach of Mumbai Indians also did not back down and clearly stated his stand on the rule.
Being part of the IPL ecosystem since 2010, Pollard highlighted how this rule is affecting the role of all-rounders, suggesting that it could have a wider impact on international cricket as well.
“If you ask me personally whether I like it or not, I can say straight away: I'm not a fan,” Cricbuzz quoted Pollard as saying.
“In terms of getting rid of it, it's beyond my pay grade. But as I said, it has definitely increased the scores in T20 cricket. Has it had the same impact on international cricket? I haven't really looked into it in detail, because it's a different dynamic – if you lose a few wickets in a league game, you still have props to come back stronger,” he continued.
“So the powers that be need to assess whether it's really good for the game, good for television, or just beneficial to individuals. With the impact player rule, there are certain skill sets that can't be fully utilized in international cricket. Hopefully, they'll review whether it's really beneficial. If not – and if the rules remain in place – then you'll just have to get on with it,” he said.
Pollard's comments join the growing list of players who have previously questioned the rule, which includes Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Shubman Gill and others. Akshar Patel.
“To be honest, I don't like this rule, because I am an all-rounder. Earlier, you used to choose an all-rounder for batting and bowling. Because of this rule, the team management goes for a particular batsman or bowler, thinking 'why do we need an all-rounder?' Akshar Patel said this at the beginning of IPL 2026.
The Impact Player rule, introduced in 2023, has been a topic of discussion ever since. Despite criticism from many players, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and IPL officials have indicated after recent discussions with team captains and management that the rule will remain in place for at least another season.
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