Axar Patel Slams Impact Player Rule, Says It Hurts All-Rounders

Axar Patel criticised the IPL Impact Player rule, saying it reduced the value of all-rounders and changed team balance in modern T20 cricket.

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel raised concerns about the Impact Player rule ahead of IPL 2026. He believes the rule reduces the role of all-rounders in modern T20 cricket. Teams now prefer specialists instead of multi-skill players, which affects balance.

“I don’t like this rule, honestly, because I am an all-rounder (laughs). Earlier, you would pick an allrounder for batting and bowling. Because of this rule, the team management goes for a particular batsman or bowler, thinking ‘Why do we need an allrounder?’. Since I am an allrounder, I don’t like the rule. At the same time, rules are rules and we need to follow them. From a personal point of view though, I don’t like the rule,” said Axar as quoted by Cricbuzz.

However, Axar clarified that the Impact Player rule did not limit his bowling in IPL 2025. He dealt with a finger injury that affected his performance. A cut on his spinning finger worsened while bowling. It restricted pressure and rotation on the ball. He bowled fewer overs as a result and managed only 5 wickets. Delhi Capitals finished fifth in IPL 2025.

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“The 2025 Champions Trophy was right before the IPL. During CT, my spinning finger sustained a cut: when I was bowling, because of the seam of the ball, it kept getting cut further. It turned into a deep cut. Because of that, I couldn’t put pressure and rotation on the ball. I was bowling less because of that. I was thinking of bowling only wherever needed and saving my finger. After seven matches, when my finger healed, I resumed bowling. It was not because of the Impact Player rule,” he said.

From No. 3 to No. 9, Axar Patel’s Versatility Stands Out

Axar Patel has become a versatile T20 all-rounder in recent years. His batting positions have ranged from No. 3 to No. 9 in T20Is. Axar believes accepting different responsibilities improves overall performance.

“You’ve seen me be the same for so many years: whatever the team requires, I do that. That’s why the tag of crisis-man has come up. I take up the role as per the team’s requirement, be it a finisher or a middle-order batter. We keep discussing: if a person is scoring four in two, or twelve in two, or 80 runs as an opener: all those roles are important for the team,” he said.

“I go with the same mindset again and again: whatever needs to be done, I will play that role. Because if you don’t get what you want, you will only get angry and disappointed. And the same thing will affect your game. That’s why I keep the team’s priorities at the forefront. When you are open to that, you give your 100%. You’re not readying your mind for one particular position. I am prepared for every role. I am fit to do that. If you don’t think that way, you are limiting yourself. And if you don’t get what you want, you feel down and don’t give your 100%,” the DC skipper concluded.