Former India and CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was not quite convinced about the need for the ‘Impact Player’ rule when it was first introduced in the IPL but now sees it as a part of T20 cricket’s evolution. The 43-year-old, who remains a talismanic figure for the Chennai Super Kings despite relinquishing captaincy last year, said he does not consider himself an Impact Player as he remains the first-choice wicketkeeper of his side.
“When this rule was implemented, I felt it wasn’t really needed at that time. In a way, it helps me, but at the same time, it doesn’t. I still do my wicket-keeping, so I am not an impact player,” Dhoni told ‘JioStar’.
“I have to be involved in the game. A lot of people say the rule has led to more high-scoring games. I believe it’s more due to the conditions and the comfort level of players,” he added.
The rule has been criticised by the likes of India’s Test and ODI skipper Rohit Sharma and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, both of whom believe that it can affect the growth of all-rounders as teams tend to choose big-hitting batters for this role. Dhoni said the rule does give teams the comfort of an extra batter for crunch situations.
“The number of runs being scored isn’t just because of an extra batsman. It’s about the mindset, teams now have the comfort of an extra batter, so they play more aggressively,” he said.
“It’s not that all four or five extra batters are being used, it’s just the confidence of having them. This is how T20 cricket has evolved,” he added.
MS Dhoni reacted to the immense love that he has received from IPL fans, “I have always said, it’s a big ‘thank you’ from the fans’ side. That’s what I believe. Whatever last few years I’m in and I will be playing, it’s a way of them saying, ‘Thank you very much for whatever you have done,’ and it’s amazing. Especially when you play a sport, what you want is the appreciation of the fans. And when it comes to cricket, India is the place to play. Being part of the Indian cricket team is one of the biggest things. I’m not playing international cricket, so IPL is the next best thing that can happen.
“Whenever you walk in, everybody is very excited, they’re waiting for you, they want you to do well—even at times when you’re playing against the team that they want to win, but they still want you to perform, contribute a bit, whatever it may be. It’s an amazing feeling,” he said.
