A Lot of People Say CSK’s MS Dhoni Shares His Opinion on the Impact Player Rule in IPL
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni recently shared his thoughts on the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
MS Dhoni on the IPL Impact Player Rule
CSK veteran MS Dhoni has expressed his disapproval of the Impact Player rule, which was introduced in IPL 2023. This rule allows teams to substitute an on-field player with a bench player, similar to football substitutions.
While the rule has led to several remarkable performances—such as Ashutosh Sharma’s unbeaten 66 for Delhi Capitals (DC) against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which secured a one-wicket victory—many cricketers, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, have criticized it. Rohit has argued that the rule could hinder the development of all-rounders in the game.
“When this rule was implemented, I felt it wasn’t really necessary at the time. In some ways, it benefits me, but in other ways, it doesn’t. I still have to do my wicketkeeping, so I’m not considered an impact player—I have to be involved in the game,” Dhoni said during a show on JioHotstar.
High-Scoring Matches and the Impact Player Rule
The introduction of the Impact Player rule has coincided with a rise in high-scoring games. In IPL 2024 alone, there were eight instances where teams scored more than 250 runs in an innings. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) even set a new record with the highest IPL total (287/3 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru).
However, Dhoni believes that high scores are not solely due to the extra batter provided by the rule but also because of evolving playing conditions and players’ mindset.
“A lot of people say the rule has led to more high-scoring games. I believe it’s more due to the conditions and the comfort level of players. The number of runs being scored isn’t just because of an extra batsman. It’s about the mindset—teams now have the confidence of an extra batter, so they play more aggressively,” Dhoni explained.
“It’s not that all four or five extra batters are being used—it’s just the security of having them. This is how T20 cricket has evolved,” the 43-year-old added.
MS Dhoni’s IPL Legacy
Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, MS Dhoni has been the face of Chennai Super Kings, except during the 2016 and 2017 seasons when CSK was suspended. During that period, he played for the Rising Pune Supergiant, leading the team in 2016 before stepping down as captain in 2017.
Under his leadership, CSK has won five IPL titles, with their most recent triumph coming in 2023. In his IPL career spanning 265 matches, Dhoni has amassed 5,243 runs at a strike rate of 137.47, including 24 half-centuries.
