The Indian Premier League (IPL) management committee last year introduced the Impact player rule which garnered the attention of fans and cricket enthusiasts. With the introduction of this rule, all the IPL teams are allowed to play one extra player in addition to the existing playing XI.
The team has given the names of 4 additional players apart from the playing XI at the toss and among those players, any player can play in place of a playing XI member before the next innings starts after a wicket falls, or if a batter retires. Impact player rule has reduced a team’s dependency on all-rounders and given the batters a license to play more freely which is why we are seeing a rise in the breach of the 200-run mark.
In IPL 2024 many players have come in as an impact player and left a mark in the game, while some impact players have even changed the outcome of the match. In this article, we will highlight the top 3 players who have done well as impact players in IPL 2024:
3) Nandre Burger – Rajasthan Royals
Nandre Burger was roped in by Rajasthan Royals for just 50 Lakhs in the auction. It was an inclusion that didn’t catch much attention at the time of the auctions but his performance so far in the IPL has been impressive. He is mostly included in the playing XI in the Rajasthan Royals especially when they are batting first.
He made his mark only in the 2nd game that he played where he picked two wickets Mitchell Marsh and Ricky Bhui to derail DC’s chase in the 2nd innings after a good start. He has so far picked up 6 wickets in 4 matches and has bolstered RR’s bowling attack by complementing Trent Boult.
2) Mahipal Lomror – Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Mahipal Lomror is another name in this IPL who has had a significant impact in the IPL so far with his performances. Lomror first played an important role in RCB’s sole win this season so far against Punjab. He came in at a precarious position and smashed a crucial 8-ball 17 knock along with Dinesh Karthik (28*) which took RCB over the line against PBKS.
He then again played a scintillating 13-ball 33-run knock against LGS in a losing cause. Despite his valiant knocks he hasn’t been a regular feature of the RCB batting line-up and has only got scattered opportunities, mostly as an Impact player.
1) Shivam Dubey – Chennai Super Kings
Shivam Dubey has been one of the top performers in this year’s IPL so far and most of his performances have come as an Impact player for CSK. In the very first game, Dubey was called in as an Impact player in a chase of 174 runs against RCB and he played a blistering knock of 34 not out to take CSK over the line.
He was again played as an Impact player by CSK against SRH and he didn’t disappoint either. He again played a spectacular knock of 45 off just 24 balls to take CSK to a respectable score of 165 runs in 20 overs. Last night again Dubey proved his worth as a dashed in the middle-order by scoring a quick-fire 28 off 18 balls and making short work of KKR’s target of 138 runs.