The 19th edition of the IPL in the 2026 season kicked off with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) facing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. This season continues to feature the Impact Player rule, which was introduced by the IPL governing body in 2023. The rule allows each team to make one substitution change during either innings.
However, the rule has faced opposition from players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel, who believe it could hinder the development of all-rounders in the country. At a pre-season captain’s meeting held at the BCCI headquarters on March 25, the majority of IPL captains expressed their reservations about the rule and urged the BCCI to reconsider its implementation. It remains to be seen if the rule will be discontinued and if the pre-IPL 2023 format will be reinstated.
The BCCI has confirmed that the rule will remain in effect for the 2025-27 seasons, with a review meeting scheduled for 2028 to decide on its future. The Impact Player rule allows teams to make one substitution change per match in either innings, which can impact the balance of the game and the role of all-rounders. Teams and players are concerned that the rule may create an uneven playing field.
As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Impact Player rule influences gameplay and whether any changes will be made in response to player feedback. Published on Mar 26, 2026.
Follow Franchise Cricket for more IPL news.
