Virat Kohli Slams Impact Player Rule, Calls for Balance in IPL

Virat Kohli, the star batter for Royal Challengers Bangalore, has expressed his disapproval of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He believes that it disrupts the balance of the game and favors batters over bowlers.

Kohli's concerns stem from the expectation that bowlers will concede boundaries on every delivery, forcing batters to score at a high rate from the start. He argues that this undermines the traditional balance between bat and ball, which he believes is essential for an exciting and competitive match.

"I agree with Rohit [Sharma]; I say it how it is. If you see in this IPL, okay, entertainment is [on] one side, but the bowlers are feeling like what they should do [to restrict the batters]," Kohli said. "I have never experienced anything like it where bowlers think they will concede a four or a six every ball."

Kohli also pointed out that not all teams have exceptional bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah or Rashid Khan, which further exacerbates the imbalance. He believes that the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match, gives an unfair advantage to teams with a strong batting lineup.

"One extra batter is the reason why I am playing with a 200-plus strike rate in the powerplay. I know there is a batsman coming in at No. 8 as well," Kohli said.

Kohli's sentiments have been echoed by other players and coaches, including Rohit Sharma, Ricky Ponting, Axar Patel, and Mukesh Kumar. However, some, like R Ashwin and Ravi Shastri, have supported the rule, arguing that it encourages innovation and forces players to adapt to the changing game.

Despite his concerns about the Impact Player rule, Kohli remains excited for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins just five days after the IPL final. He is eager to contribute to India's success and believes that the team has a strong chance of winning the tournament.

"I can say I am hungry as ever. If I don't have the hunger, you will not see me in the tournament," Kohli said. "If I don't have that mindset, I cannot play... Once the team atmosphere builds up, it's a beautiful journey."

Tags: #IPL, #ImpactPlayer, #ViratKohli, #Cricket, #Balance