Impact Player nightmare for coaches but spectacle for fans: Ricky Ponting

The IPL has introduced a new rule regarding an "Impact Player," sparking various discussions. While some appreciate the new rule, others are not very fond of it. Recently, Rohit Sharma expressed his dislike for the rule. Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals' coach Ricky Ponting described the rule as a nightmare, although he acknowledged that if the rule proves beneficial for the tournament, he would not object to its continuation.

During a conversation with the cricket-based website 'Cricinfo', Ponting shared his thoughts on the matter.

"It would be great to hear what people think about this," Ponting said. "If the regular viewers like it and think it's good, then it could certainly continue."

"If a significant portion remains confused and unsure about the role of an 'Impact Player'—with players coming in and out—then we need to reconsider. Ultimately, we want to think about the product and ensure everyone can enjoy it," he added.

The "Impact Player" rule was implemented in the IPL from the 2023 season. It allows a team to include a 12th player who acts as a tactical substitute.

Last year, Rohit Sharma, who led the Mumbai Indians, also mentioned in a podcast with Club Prairie Fire that he is not very enthusiastic about the rule.

Ponting further explained to Cricinfo, "Having the responsibility to just set up the best eleven would make things much simpler for a coach. From both a player's and a coach’s perspective, the game would be much easier if you only had to pick eleven players and send out your best lineup."

"Because I'm telling you, after training in the evening, we sit down to select the team. You have to finalize two teams and pick five impact players from them. You may need to do these tasks in various ways and consider different combinations, which can become somewhat nightmarish.