R Ashwin in favor of not abolishing the impact player rule, lists the benefits

Indian off-spinner R Ashwin believes that the impact player rule is a strategic rule in the IPL and that removing it will result in a loss of interest. The impact player rule has been heavily criticized by IPL 2024 players and coaches, including India's Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma. However, Ashwin has a different viewpoint.

Speaking on Chris Srikkanth's YouTube show 'Cheeky Cheeka', Ashwin said, "The impact player rule is not that bad, as it puts more emphasis on elements like strategy in cricket. Although one side of it is that this rule does not promote all-rounders, no one is stopping anyone from doing so. This generation is such that no batsman wants to bowl and vice versa. It is not that the all-rounders have been affected by the impact player rule. Just look at Venkatesh Iyer, he is doing wonders for Lancashire in county cricket. The impact player rule gives an opportunity for a new experiment in cricket.”

Citing the example of this year's Qualifier-2, Ashwin said, “Sunrisers Hyderabad brought Shahbaz Ahmed as an impact player and he proved to be a match-winner by taking three wickets. In the IPL, when Dew plays an effective role and the match becomes almost one-sided, a rule like an impact player gives another bowling option and balance to the game. When you play an extra player, the match becomes closer.”