NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants consultant Adam Voges has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding the Impact Player rule in the IPL. He expressed his preference for a rule similar to the 'Power Surge' in the Australian Big Bash League, where the batting team can choose a two-over phase of fielding restrictions.
The Impact Player substitution rule, introduced in the previous season, has been a hot topic of discussion this year.
Many players, including India captain Rohit Sharma, have criticized it, arguing that it hinders the development of all-rounders. Voges concurred, acknowledging that while the rule makes for exciting cricket, it diminishes the role of all-rounders.
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"The scores have been going up, and the teams have got genuine batters coming in at number seven or eight, while the batters have gone hard right from the start," Voges said after LSG's six-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday night.
"Certainly makes for entertaining cricket, but it takes the all-rounders out of the game for a little bit and their effectiveness. The all-rounder always balances the side and perhaps it is not as important with the Impact Sub," he elaborated.
When asked if the Impact Player rule is similar to the Power Surge in the Big Bash League, Voges expressed his preference for the latter, stating that it enhances the contest and he is a fan of it.
Unlike the IPL, which has a six-over power play at the beginning of the innings, the BBL has a four-over power play. The Power Surge is a two-over phase with only two fielders allowed outside the circle, which the batting team can choose at any point after the 11th over of their innings.
"I like the Power Surge back at home. It just adds another element to the game," Voges said. "While chasing, you never feel like you are out of the game. But we have also seen multiple wickets fall during that period," he added.
(With inputs from PTI)