• Home
  • Who Said What
  • I Am All For Impact Sub Zaheer Khan Supports R Ashwin On Debatable Ipl Rule

'I Am All For Impact Sub': Zaheer Khan Supports R Ashwin On Debatable IPL Rule

Zaheer Khan [X.com]Zaheer Khan [X.com]

On Wednesday, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) officially introduced Zaheer Khan as their new mentor, succeeding Gautam Gambhir for the upcoming edition of the IPL. The announcement, made during a press conference in Kolkata, marks a significant shift in mentorship for the franchise. 

Gambhir, who had previously guided LSG to consecutive IPL playoffs alongside coach Andy Flower, left the team in 2024 to join Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). 

The departure of Gambhir and Flower led to a turbulent season under Justin Langer, where LSG failed to secure a top-four finish. Now, with Zaheer Khan at the helm, the franchise is looking to regain its momentum.

Zaheer Khan's Support for the Impact Player Rule

During the press conference, Zaheer Khan addressed the ongoing debate surrounding the Impact Player rule. He expressed strong support for the rule, highlighting its benefits for uncapped players and its potential to provide much-needed game time for emerging talents. 

Zaheer emphasized that the rule eliminates the need for "half all-rounders" and instead encourages players with genuine abilities in both batting and bowling to shine.

“There is debate regarding the impact sub (player rule). Putting on record, I am all for it. It has helped a lot of uncapped players get their chance. Helped players get much-needed game time. There is no space for half all-rounders. If you have ability with bat and ball, no one can stop you,” Zaheer stated.

Ravichandran Ashwin Take On Impact Player Rule

While Zaheer Khan supports the Impact Player rule, it has faced opposition from other Indian cricket stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. 

They argue that the rule hampers the development of Indian all-rounders and makes the game overly batter-friendly. Kohli, the highest run-scorer in IPL history, believes the rule disrupts the balance between bat and ball. 

Meanwhile, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has taken a different stance, advocating for the rule's continuation as it promotes tactical thinking in cricket. He believes that all-rounders can still excel despite the rule.