Concerns about the balance between bat and ball in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have been raised frequently over recent seasons. Former India captain and cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar has now joined that discussion, proposing a series of changes that he believes could help restore greater equilibrium between batsmen and bowlers in the tournament.
Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards event in Ahmedabad on the eve of the current IPL final, Tendulkar called for the removal of the league’s Impact Player rule and suggested two additional changes relating to powerplays and bowling allocations.
The Impact Player regulation was introduced in the IPL in 2023. Under the rule, teams name five substitute players at the toss and may introduce one of them during the match in place of a member of the starting XI. In effect, this allows franchises to utilise 12 players during a game.
According to Tendulkar, the rule provides batting sides with an additional advantage. The availability of an extra player allows teams to adopt a more aggressive approach, even after losing wickets, because another specialist batsman can be introduced later in the innings.
Explaining his opposition to the rule, Tendulkar said: “T20 cricket is only a 20-over game. You are adding another extra batsman to the line-up. Bowlers already face enough challenges. This rule is creating a kind of imbalance in the game.”
In addition to advocating the removal of the Impact Player system, Tendulkar outlined two further proposals designed to strengthen the position of bowlers.
The first concerns the powerplay. At present, during the first six overs of a T20 innings, only two fielders are permitted outside the 30-yard circle. Tendulkar suggested that the initial four overs should remain unchanged, while the remaining two powerplay overs could be taken at any stage of the innings at the discretion of the fielding captain.
He explained that during those selected two overs, the fielding side should be allowed one additional fielder outside the circle. In his view, such a change would give captains greater tactical flexibility and enable fielding teams to manage key phases of a match more effectively.
Tendulkar’s third proposal relates to bowling limits. Under current T20 regulations, a bowler may deliver a maximum of four overs in an innings. He argued that teams should be permitted to give one bowler a fifth over.
Defending the idea, Tendulkar noted that the extra over would naturally be entrusted to a team’s leading bowler. He questioned why elite batsmen are allowed to bat throughout an innings while top bowlers remain restricted to four overs.
Tendulkar’s Proposed IPL Changes
| Area | Current Rule | Proposed Change |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Player | One substitute from a list of five may replace a starting player during the match | Abolish the rule entirely |
| Powerplay | First six overs with only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle | Keep first four overs unchanged; allow captains to choose when to use the remaining two powerplay overs |
| Bowling Limit | Maximum of four overs per bowler | Permit one bowler to bowl up to five overs |
The three recommendations are centred on a common objective: reducing what Tendulkar regards as a growing advantage for batsmen in T20 cricket and providing bowlers and fielding captains with additional opportunities to influence matches. His comments add to the broader debate about how the IPL and T20 cricket can maintain a competitive balance between attacking batting and effective bowling.