The Indian Premier League’s (IPL) Impact Player rule is likely to remain in place for the 2027 season, despite continued criticism from players and coaches. While the league has not formally communicated its decision to franchises, teams are proceeding with their auction preparations and squad planning on the understanding that the rule will continue for another year.
An IPL official told Hindustan Times that a change at this stage would be difficult for franchises, particularly with the next edition being the final season before the next mega auction cycle.
“The next edition will be the last before a mega auction cycle and a rule change now would be too late for the teams. It’s unlikely there would be any change,” the official said.
The IPL had sought feedback from franchises on the rule in August. According to a team official, at least four franchises expressed concerns that withdrawing it so close to the season would significantly disrupt their strategies.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are among the teams whose squad construction has been influenced by the rule. The franchise has built its batting approach around aggressive intent and considerable batting depth, using the additional player as a safety net. Without the Impact Player option, the team would need to strengthen its bowling resources, something that could prove difficult to achieve through a mini auction.
The rule has also allowed teams to use players who are not fully fit for their entire role. During IPL 2026, Rohit Sharma missed five matches due to a hamstring injury but was able to return as a batter under the provision. MS Dhoni, who was unavailable for Chennai Super Kings due to injury, also generated considerable interest over the possibility of featuring as an Impact Player.
Introduced in 2023, the rule has had a significant effect on batting numbers. Across the first 15 IPL seasons up to 2022, there were 133 instances of teams scoring 200 or more. Since its introduction, that figure has risen to 195 across four editions.
The scoring rate has also climbed considerably. It increased from 7.48 runs per over in the inaugural 2008 season to 8.54 in 2022, before reaching 9.85 in IPL 2026.
However, the rule remains unpopular among sections of the playing community. Critics argue that it reduces the influence of bowlers and limits the development of allrounders by allowing teams to bring in specialist players for different phases of a match.
Despite those concerns, the increase in boundaries and high-scoring contests has commercial appeal, with greater entertainment value potentially translating into stronger viewership. That balance between the concerns of players and the league’s commercial interests appears to be working in favour of retaining the rule for another season.
