Rahul Dravid breaks silence on impact player rule: ‘Wasn’t fond of it as India coach’

Rahul Dravid, the former head coach of team India and current Rajasthan Royals tactician, has offered a candid take on the IPL's Impact Player rule, praising its tactical edge while voicing serious concerns about its long-term implications for Indian cricket.

In an interview with Sportstar, Dravid admitted that while the rule has added excitement and strategic complexity to the league, he was “not particularly fond” of it during his tenure with the national team.

“It has certainly added a different dynamic,” Dravid said, “I’ll be honest: when I was India’s coach, I wasn’t particularly fond of the Impact Player rule. Not because it doesn’t make the game more competitive—it certainly does. It adds complexity and keeps matches alive till the very end. But from a national team perspective, it posed some challenges.”

The Impact Player rule, officially introduced in the 2023 IPL after being trialed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, allows teams to substitute one player from the playing XI during a match. While this innovation has made matches more unpredictable and scoring-heavy, it has also redefined how teams approach batting orders and resource management.

“Statistically, scoring rates have increased due to teams having an extra specialist batter,” Dravid noted. “This means no team is ever truly out of a game. You can have a batter at No. 8 or even No. 9, which allows for aggressive hitting even after losing six or seven wickets.”

Concerns over all-rounder development

Dravid's primary concern lies in the rule’s impact on developing all-rounders — a crucial asset in the international format. According to him, the traditional 11 vs 11 structure offered more chances for players to evolve by contributing across departments.

“As a coach, you want to develop all-rounders, and under the old format, certain players would have had more opportunities to bat or bowl in different situations,” he explained. “The Impact Player rule has changed that to some extent.”

He added that while all-rounders still hold value, teams now feel less pressure to include them, altering the dynamics of squad composition.

“While having an all-rounder still brings balance, teams can now manage without one if they don’t find the right fit,” Dravid said.

His remarks align with earlier concerns expressed by stalwarts like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have also questioned whether the rule favors entertainment over long-term player development.

As the debate intensifies, Dravid’s insights offer a crucial perspective from someone who has operated at the helm of both IPL franchises and the national team — making it clear that what works for the league may not always work for India’s cricketing future.