IPL 2026: India captain Shubman Gill wants Impact Player Rule Removed, gives strong Verdict

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Gujarat Titans leader Shubman Gill joined a chorus of Indian skippers, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Delhi Capitals' Axar Patel, pushing for a review of the controversial Impact Player rule before its extension through 2027.

The rule, rolled out by the BCCI in 2023, lets teams swap in an extra batter or bowler mid-match, sparking heated debate over its effect on the game's essence. Speaking out a day later, Gill didn't hold back on why he opposes it.

"Personally for me, I don't think there should be an impact player. I think cricket in general is an 11 players' game and on wickets where we play on the grounds that we play, adding an extra batsman is I think it takes the skill out of the game," said Gill, who leads India in Tests and ODIs.

"There's a certain skill in the game that you need to have. When you have a certain amount of batters and if a couple of your batters get out, there's an amount of skill that you need to have to still get the scoreboard moving and get your team to a good score," Gill added/

Gill argued it simplifies challenges, saying, "With that one extra player, it's making the game more one-dimensional and it's taking a little bit of the skill out of the game. Chasing 180 on a challenging wicket or 160 on a challenging wicket is for me, it's personally way more exciting than chasing 220 on a flat wicket."

While acknowledging its entertainment value, Gill remains skeptical: "It's gonna be there till 2027. It's something that we also spoke about in the captain's meeting yesterday. I understand it makes the game a bit more entertaining, but let's see. It's there. It's up to them what the BCCI is going to do, they're gonna take their decision, but personally I don't like it."

The BCCI holds final say post-2027, leaving critics like Gill to adapt in the interim as the IPL evolves. The Impact Player rule was introduced in 2022, and since has received mixed review across the fraternity.