Impact Players will make their debut in IPL 2023. In July 2005, the International Cricket Council had started the system of a ‘Super Sub’ in ODIs, where captains of the two teams had to name a substitute player from their squad before the toss apart from selecting their playing XI. The teams had a choice of using this ‘Super Sub’ during the game in place of a player who was originally part of their XI.
The concept lasted only nine months as it was felt that it provided an unfair advantage to the team winning the toss. The ICC hasn’t experimented with any such concept since then, but some countries have for their domestic events.
In November 2020, the ‘X-factor sub’ was introduced in the Big Bash League of Australia. And in the next edition of the Indian Premier League, the Impact Player will come into play, adding a twist to how teams strategise during a game.
How exactly will the system work? The Telegraph provides the answers.
Q: What is the new system?
A: During the course of a match, each team can make one substitution. The substitute will be called the Impact Player.
Q: How to choose the Impact Player?
A: Alongside the playing XI, a team will have to list four substitutes at the toss. Any one of those four substitutes can be used as its Impact Player.
Q: When can the Impact Player be brought in?
A: The captain of the team concerned can bring the player in before the start of an innings, at the end of an over, at the fall of a wicket and also when a batsman is retired hurt or leaving the field even if not dismissed. But if the bowling side brings its Impact Player during an over (at the fall of a wicket or if a batsman is leaving the field), the player will not be allowed to bowl the remaining balls of the over.
Q: What happens to the player replaced by the Impact Player?
A: The replaced player has no further part in the game. He cannot take the field even as a substitute fielder.
Q: Can an overseas player be named as Impact Player?
A: No, if the playing XI already has four overseas players. In that case, only Indians can be named on the list of four Impact Players.
Q: Why is there a restriction on overseas cricketers?
A: This is to limit the number of overseas players to four per team in the XI. However, if a team starts with only three or fewer overseas players in its XI, it can then name an overseas cricketer as its Impact Player. But that overseas player has to be nominated as part of his team’s four substitutes at the toss.
Q: How many players get to bat then? 11 or more?
A: Only 11 can bat. If the batting team’s Impact Player is a batsman who replaces someone who has been dismissed/ retired, then one of the players yet to come in will not be allowed to bat.
Q: How can the bowling team make it work?
A: When the bowling team brings in its Impact Player, it will be allowed to use his full quota of four overs irrespective of the number of overs bowled by the player he’s replacing. But then, if the bowling team brings in its Impact Player in the middle of an over, he will have to wait till the end of that over before he can bowl.
Q: Can a delayed start affect the Impact Player rule?
A: According to the IPL governing council, there will be no change to the implementation of the Impact Player rule if “a delayed start reduces the total amount of overs available to both sides to less than 20 overs per innings prior to the commencement of the match. Impact Player can be utilised at any time during the match”.
Q: How does it differ from the BBL’s ‘X-factor sub’?
A: In the case of the ‘X-factor sub’, both teams have the option to substitute a player from the 12th and the 13th member of the squad named on the team list. The ‘X-Factor sub’ can come into the game after the 10th over and replace any player who’s yet to bat or has bowled no more than one over for the bowling side. There’s no restriction on overseas players.