The BCCI has decided to keep the Impact Player rule for IPL 2025. New Zealand player Kane Williamson thinks that the role of all-rounders might not be as crucial as it used to be. He was part of the Gujarat Titans last season but didn’t get picked in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, which surprised a lot of people.
In a twist, broadcaster Star Sports announced that Williamson will be returning to the league in a commentary role. In a media chat on Friday, he discussed how the Impact Player rule influences all-rounders. He mentioned, It does change things a bit. You decide your team after the toss, which affects how you use the Impact Player and your overall game plan. Many teams go in with five main players and often have a sixth option. Plus, most teams are batting down to eight or even deeper. In T20 cricket, very few balls are faced by batsmen after the seventh spot.
He believes that while all-rounders are still appealing, they may not be as essential as they once were. Still, Williamson sees some benefits from the rule, saying, There are positives too, like how it has changed the game. I saw that the run rates have gone up recently.
The IPL 2025 starts tomorrow, March 22, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening match at Eden Gardens.
