RCB Coach Andy Flower Backs Impact Player Rule in IPL Despite Multiple Criticisms

Andy Flower supports the Impact Player rule as an engaging innovation, even as Axar Patel and Shubman Gill continue to criticise its impact on the balance of the game.

Amid growing criticism surrounding the Impact Player rule in IPL, Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Andy Flower has come out in support of the regulation. While several prominent Indian cricketers have voiced concerns, Flower believes the rule adds a fresh tactical dimension to the game and keeps fans engaged.

“I think it has been a good innovation, it’s interesting to be part of it. You’re making decisions on the impact player, and I think it’s interesting for the audience to debate what’s right and what’s wrong, so tactically it’s quite an interesting addition to the game,” Flower said on the eve of IPL 2026’s season-opener.

Top Indian Stars Continue to Oppose the Rule

The rule, introduced in 2023, has faced strong opposition from leading Indian players like Axar Patel and Shubman Gill. Gill recently remarked that the extra player makes the format “one-dimensional,” while Axar has repeatedly expressed his dislike for the concept.

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Critics argue that the rule heavily tilts the balance in favour of batters, allowing teams to deepen their batting line-ups and push for higher totals. This shift has made life increasingly difficult for bowlers and traditional all-rounders, reducing the strategic balance that once defined T20 cricket.

Flower Acknowledges Downsides of the Rule

Despite backing the innovation, Flower admitted that the rule does come with its drawbacks, particularly in terms of team selection balance.

“I must say that one of the things I love about cricket is that when you select an 11, one of the challenges you have is balancing your 11 — the length of the batting order, balancing, perhaps, some guys that can’t feel that well and it’s one of the things that makes selection a little bit tricky,” he said.

“The impact player rule hides that selection problem a little, so I think one of the great things about cricket is some of the debates around selection and when you select single-skilled players, you weaken another area of your game, the impact player can hide that, so there are pros and cons I think to it,” he added.