Axar Patel on the Impact Player Rule in IPL 'I Don't Like It '

An all-rounder himself, Axar Patel on Monday became the latest Indian cricketer to criticise the Impact Player rule in the IPL with a blunt "I don't like it" response before insisting that it hurts the growth of his tribe.

Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have spoken against the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute anyone in the playing XI with one of the five listed substitutes at any point of the match. It was introduced in 2023 and will stay until at least 2027.

In



2024, Rohit had said that he was not a fan of the strategic rule, saying it hampered the development of all-rounders in Indian cricket, while the following season, Hardik said it had become too difficult to pick an all-rounder in the side unless he was equally good with both bat and ball.

Responding to a media query seeking his views on the rule, the Indian T20 vice-captain too weighed in on the subject ahead of his second season as Delhi Capitals captain. "I don't like this rule as I am an all-rounder myself.