The Impact player rule, set to be applied at the upcoming edition of the Indinan Premier League, will only allow Indian players to be substituted, unless a team goes in with less than for overseas players in their starting XI.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has confirmed the set of rules and conditions to the newly introduced rule, which will be introduced during the IPL 2023. In the regulations as revealed to the franchises on Wednesday, the board has specified that the “Impact Player can only be an Indian player unless there are less than 4 overseas players in the Playing XI.”
That means that an overseas player can be used as an Impact Player only if a team goes in with less than the maximum permitted four foreign players in the starting XI.
“Only an overseas player who is part of 4 substitutes named in the team sheet can be used as an Impact Player. If a team introduces an overseas player as an Impact Player in a match, in no circumstance can a 5th overseas player take the field,”
the elabroate note confirms.
As to how the Impact player can be used, the note states:
“The Captain will nominate the Impact Player.
The Impact Player can be introduced (i) before the start of the innings;
or (ii) after completion of an over;
or (iii) in case of a batter, at the fall of the wicket or the batter retiring at any time during the over (as provided in Clause 1.8 (iv) below).
“A Player who is replaced by an Impact Player (“Replaced Player”) can no longer take part in the remainder of the match and is also not permitted to return as a substitute fielder,” the note states further.
The note also confirms that an Impact Player cannot act as captain. Moreover, he can come in place of a retired batter who will be allowed to come later should the need arise.
