Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player MS Dhoni shared his thoughts on the impact player rule during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. He expressed that the rule wasn’t necessary, as the league was already high-scoring, and the TRP for the tournament was strong.
The IPL has been implementing the impact player rule for the past two seasons. However, many players have voiced their dissatisfaction with it, stating that it heavily favors the batters and leaves little support for bowlers.
Senior Indian cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also openly criticized the rule. They believe it undermines the role of all-rounders, which could harm the development of future all-rounders in Indian cricket.
After the previous season, there was significant discussion about whether the rule would remain in place. Despite expectations that it might be scrapped, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that the rule will continue until the 2027 cycle, with a decision being made after that.
MS Dhoni spoke about the impact player rule, noting that when it was first introduced, he felt there was no need to further enhance the league, as it was already in a good position. He also addressed the question of whether the rule benefits him, replying that it both “does and doesn’t” favor him. In an interview with JioHotstar, he shared his perspective on the matter.
In an interview, MS Dhoni shared his thoughts on the rule change, stating, “When it was introduced, I felt that the IPL was already in a great place and didn’t need any additional elements to make it more exciting. The matches were competitive, high-scoring, and entertaining as they were. In this format, we’ve often seen games wrap up quickly if a team loses too many wickets early, failing to put up a decent score, making it an easy win for the opposition.”
He further elaborated, “If a team suffers early setbacks, they’re usually out of the contest. So, when this rule was implemented, I personally didn’t see the necessity, considering the tournament’s popularity was already soaring, quality cricket was being played, and new talent was emerging. However, the rule was introduced regardless. In some ways, it benefits me, but at the same time, it doesn’t because I’m still keeping and staying involved in the game rather than being an impact player.”
