Sachin Tendulkar Proposes Major T20 Rule Changes, Calls For Impact Player Rule Removal

Sachin Tendulkar has suggested three significant T20 rule changes, including scrapping the Impact Player rule, to restore balance between bat and ball.

Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar has called for major adjustments to T20 cricket rules, arguing that the format has tilted too heavily in favour of batters. Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards ahead of the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT), Tendulkar expressed concerns over the Impact Player rule and its effect on the game.

The former Mumbai Indians icon believes the introduction of an extra batter through the Impact Player rule has made life increasingly difficult for bowlers in a format that already favours aggressive stroke play.

“ The impact player needs to go away. Uh, that is my personal opinion. I feel when in a T20 format, you just have to play 20 overs, and then you’re adding one more batter to that lineup where bowlers are already being challenged. I find that imbalance,”

According to Tendulkar, removing the rule would help restore a healthier balance between batting and bowling while maintaining the competitive nature of the format.

ALSO READ | Virat Kohli Praises Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues; Opens Up On Purpose Beyond Records

Tendulkar Suggests Flexible Powerplay System

Apart from advocating the removal of the Impact Player rule, Tendulkar also proposed an innovative change to the Powerplay structure in T20 cricket.

The batting great suggested retaining the traditional field restrictions for the first four overs of an innings. However, instead of completing all six Powerplay overs at the start, he believes the remaining two overs should be available for the fielding captain to use at any point during the innings.

Under his proposal, an additional fielder would also be allowed outside the 30-yard circle during those two overs, providing captains with greater tactical flexibility.

“The second one may be a suggestion that, uh, the power play of six overs with field restrictions, only two fielders allowed outside the ring. Let the first four overs be batter’s power play with same field restrictions, and post that, the remaining two power play overs should be determined by the fielding captain as and when he wants to take. But those two consecutive overs will also get one fielder extra outside the ring at any stage of the game. So, you know, you are able to control the game better. That’s my personal feeling,”

Tendulkar feels such a move would add a fresh strategic dimension to T20 cricket while giving bowlers and captains more control during crucial phases of an innings.

One Bowler Should Be Allowed To Bowl Five Overs

The third proposal from Tendulkar focused on increasing the workload of elite bowlers. Currently, bowlers are restricted to a maximum of four overs in a T20 innings.

Tendulkar argued that if top-order batters are capable of batting throughout the entire innings, the best bowlers should also be given an opportunity to have a greater influence on the contest.

“And one bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. Five overs? Yes. Yeah. Because you would invariably, the best bowler of the side is gonna bowl that fifth over. Wouldn’t you wanna see that best bowler bowl more? Of course. Like, like, you know, the top batters are batting sometimes even 20 overs. Why shouldn’t the best bowler be bowling five overs?”

The suggestion would allow teams to utilise their premier bowlers for an additional over, potentially helping counter the increasing dominance of batters in modern T20 cricket.

Tendulkar Continues To Advocate Balance Between Bat And Ball

Tendulkar’s recommendations come at a time when T20 scoring rates continue to soar across franchise leagues around the world. Massive totals, deeper batting line-ups and aggressive batting approaches have become the norm, particularly in the IPL.

ALSO READ | Ravi Shastri Wants 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Fast-Tracked Into India T20 Debut

By proposing the removal of the Impact Player rule, introducing a flexible Powerplay system and allowing one bowler to deliver five overs, Tendulkar has reignited the debate around maintaining equilibrium between bat and ball in the shortest format.

While these changes remain suggestions for now, they are likely to spark significant discussion among administrators, players and fans about the future direction of T20 cricket.