'Impact Player rule is not so bad': Ashwin explains why IPL rule should stay despite criticism

Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up on the much-talked-about Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ashwin has backed the rule despite criticism from several top stars including the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. 

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Here's why Ashwin believes Impact Player rule should stay in IPL

Ashwin, while speaking to former India cricketer Krishnamachari Srikkanth on his Youtube channel, said that the Impact Player rule in the IPL should stay as it provides more value in terms of strategy. Ashwin also refuted the claims that the rule hampers the role of all-rounders in the team.  

"Why I think the Impact Player rule is not so bad is because it gives a little more value for strategy," 'ESPNCricinfo' quoted Ashwin as saying on former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth's YouTube show, which is in Tamil.

"The other side of that argument is it doesn't encourage all-rounders. But no one is stopping them. In this generation, they don't do it (batters bowling and vice-versa).

"It's not like they're discouraged because of the Impact Player rule. Look at Venkatesh Iyer, he's currently rocking for Lancashire. There's an opportunity for innovation and it makes the game fairer," Ashwin added.

The 37-year-old backed his stance by citing the Qualifier 2 match in which Sunrisers Hyderabad replaced opener Travis Head with spinner Shahbaz Ahmed against Rajasthan Royals at this year's IPL.

Ahmed went on to become the player of the match, claiming three wickets including Ashwin's.

"Sunrisers brought in Shahbaz Ahmed as an Impact Player (after hitting 175 for 9 batting first). He went on to become a match-winner.

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Ashwin argued that the rule can play a significant role in balancing matches when there is dew.

"When dew has the potential to make games one-sided, teams bowling second get an extra option as a counter. If you're batting second, you can tactically make a substitution by off-loading the extra bowler for a batter," he said.

"Games are tighter, an extra player is getting to play. Barring Kolkata or Mumbai, where scores skyrocketed, they haven't been a drastic change elsewhere. Like at Punjab Kings' home venue (Mullanpur), they were all 160-170 games." On the other hand, the rule has helped several players advance in their careers, even earning spots in the national team, reckoned Ashwin.

"Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube most importantly, Dhruv Jurel… If not for the Impact Player rule, he may have never gotten the chance. So the emergence of a lot of players has happened. I'm not saying that's the only way for players to emerge, but it's not so bad," he said. 

(With PTI inputs)