What is the Impact Player rule in IPL? New rules in Indian Premier League 2023 explained

Ben Miller

What is the Impact Player rule in IPL? New rules in Indian Premier League 2023 explained image

One of the more intriguing changes to the rules in the Indian Premier League for 2023 will allow teams to use an 'Impact Player'.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has implemented the potentially game-changing measure after trying it out in domestic competitions.

Announcing the news two days before the player auction on December 21, organisers said the move would add "a new tactical, strategic dimension" to the game.

Here's how umpires will let fans know it's happening during IPL games, the criteria teams have to meet to take advantage of it and everything else you need to know.

MORE: Latest betting odds for IPL 2023

What is the Impact Player rule in IPL?

Introduced for the 2023 season, Impact Players will give teams the opportunity to change their balance — and possibly swing a match in their favour — by substituting one player for another for the remainder of the game.

"A number of team sports allow teams to make tactical substitutes i.e., football, rugby, basketball, baseball. The substitute is allowed to perform or participate like any other regular player," the IPL said when the new rule was confirmed.

How does the IPL Impact Player system work?

In addition to the usual playing XI, teams will list four substitutes at the toss, any one of whom can be used as their Impact Player.

They will hand in two teamsheets: one with a starting XI and substitutes should they bowl first, and another if they begin by batting.

The Impact Player can join play before the start of an innings, at the end of an over, when a wicket falls or when a batter retires, although the player will not be able to bowl the remaining balls of the over if they are brought on by the bowling side when a wicket falls or batter retires.

The replaced player can play no further part in the match, and their team can still only use 11 batters, so one of their players yet to bat will not do so if the Impact Player does.

IPL 2023
https://www.iplt20.com/news/3860/bcci-announces-schedule-for-tata-ipl-2023

Perhaps the most important aspect for teams to consider is that they are still only allowed to use a maximum of four overseas players in a game.

That means only an Indian can be used as the Impact Player if the team already have four overseas players in their starting XI.

What is the umpire signal for Impact Players?

Look out for umpires clenching their fists and crossing their hands above their heads, which means an Impact Player is about to enter the action.

What is the new IPL rule on no-balls and wides?

Teams have only previously been allowed to review on-field decisions when an umpire decides a player is or isn't out.

However, they will now be able to do so when wides or no-balls are called, with two unsuccessful reviews for each team in each innings allowed.

IPL 2023 full schedule

Date Home Team Away Team Venue Time (IST)
31/3/2023 Gujarat Titans Chennai Super Kings Ahmedabad 7:30pm
1/4/2023 Punjab Kings Kolkata Knight Riders Mohali 3:30pm
1/4/2023 Lucknow Super Giants Delhi Capitals Lucknow 7:30pm
2/4/2023 Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajasthan Royals Hyderabad 3:30pm
2/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Mumbai Indians Bengaluru 7:30pm
3/4/2023 Chennai Super Kings Lucknow Super Giants Chennai 7:30pm
4/4/2023 Delhi Capitals Gujarat Titans Delhi 7:30pm
5/4/2023 Rajasthan Royals Punjab Kings Guwahati 7:30pm
6/4/2023 Kolkata Knight Riders Royal Challengers Bangalore Kolkata 7:30pm
7/4/2023 Lucknow Super Giants Sunrisers Hyderabad Lucknow 7:30pm
8/4/2023 Rajasthan Royals Delhi Capitals Guwahati 3:30pm
8/4/2023 Mumbai Indians Chennai Super Kings Mumbai 7:30pm
9/4/2023 Gujarat Titans Kolkata Knight Riders Ahmedabad 3:30pm
9/4/2023 Sunrisers Hyderabad Punjab Kings Hyderabad 7:30pm
10/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Lucknow Super Giants Bengaluru 7:30pm
11/4/2023 Delhi Capitals Mumbai Indians Delhi 7:30pm
12/4/2023 Chennai Super Kings Rajasthan Royals Chennai 7:30pm
13/4/2023 Punjab Kings Gujarat Titans Mohali 7:30pm
14/4/2023 Kolkata Knight Riders Sunrisers Hyderabad Kolkata 7:30pm
15/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Delhi Capitals Bengaluru 3:30pm
15/4/2023 Lucknow Super Giants Punjab Kings Lucknow 7:30pm
16/4/2023 Mumbai Indians Kolkata Knight Riders Mumbai 3:30pm
16/4/2023 Gujarat Titans Rajasthan Royals Gujarat 7:30pm
17/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Chennai Super Kings Bengaluru 7:30pm
18/4/2023 Sunrisers Hyderabad Mumbai Indians Hyderabad 7:30pm
19/4/2023 Rajasthan Royals Lucknow Super Giants Jaipur 7:30pm
20/4/2023 Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bangalore Mohali 3:30pm
20/4/2023 Delhi Capitals Kolkata Knight Riders Delhi 7:30pm
21/4/2023 Chennai Super Kings Sunrisers Hyderabad Chennai 7:30pm
22/4/2023 Lucknow Super Giants Gujarat Titans Lucknow 3:30pm
22/4/2023 Mumbai Indians Punjab Kings Mumbai 7:30pm
23/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Rajasthan Royals Bengaluru 3:30pm
23/4/2023 Kolkata Knight Riders Chennai Super Kings Kolkata 7:30pm
24/4/2023 Sunrisers Hyderabad Delhi Capitals Hyderabad 7:30pm
25/4/2023 Gujarat Titans Mumbai Indians Ahmedabad 7:30pm
26/4/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Kolkata Knight Riders Bengaluru 7:30pm
27/4/2023 Rajasthan Royals Chennai Super Kings Jaipur 7:30pm
28/4/2023 Punjab Kings Lucknow Super Giants Mohali 7:30pm
29/4/2023 Kolkata Knight Riders Gujarat Titans Kolkata 3:30pm
29/4/2023 Delhi Capitals Sunrisers Hyderabad Delhi 7:30pm
30/4/2023 Chennai Super Kings Punjab Kings Chennai 3:30pm
30/4/2023 Mumbai Indians Rajasthan Royals Mumbai 7:30pm
1/5/2023 Lucknow Super Giants Royal Challengers Bangalore Lucknow 7:30pm
2/5/2023 Gujarat Titans Delhi Capitals Ahmedabad 7:30pm
3/5/2023 Punjab Kings Mumbai Indians Mohali 7:30pm
4/5/2023 Lucknow Super Giants Chennai Super Kings Lucknow 3:30pm
4/5/2023 Sunrisers Hyderabad Kolkata Knight Riders Hyderabad 7:30pm
5/5/2023 Rajasthan Royals Gujarat Titans Jaipur 7:30pm
6/5/2023 Chennai Super Kings Mumbai Indians Chennai 3:30pm
6/5/2023 Delhi Capitals Royal Challengers Bangalore Delhi 7:30pm
7/5/2023 Gujarat Titans Lucknow Super Giants Ahmedabad 3:30pm
7/5/2023 Rajasthan Royals Sunrisers Hyderabad Jaipur 7:30pm
8/5/2023 Kolkata Knight Riders Punjab Kings Kolkata 7:30pm
9/5/2023 Mumbai Indians Royal Challengers Bangalore Mumbai 7:30pm
10/5/2023 Chennai Super Kings Delhi Capitals Chennai 7:30pm
11/5/2023 Kolkata Knight Riders Rajasthan Royals Kolkata 7:30pm
12/5/2023 Mumbai Indians Gujarat Titans Mumbai 7:30pm
13/5/2023 Sunrisers Hyderabad Lucknow Super Giants Hyderabad 3:30pm
13/5/2023 Delhi Capitals Punjab Kings Delhi 7:30pm
14/5/2023 Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bangalore Jaipur 3:30pm
14/5/2023 Chennai Super Kings Kolkata Knight Riders Chennai 7:30pm
15/5/2023 Gujarat Titans Sunrisers Hyderabad Ahmedabad 7:30pm
16/5/2023 Lucknow Super Giants Mumbai Indians Lucknow 7:30pm
17/5/2023 Punjab Kings Delhi Capitals Dharamshala 7:30pm
18/5/2023 Sunrisers Hyderabad Royal Challengers Bangalore Hyderabad 7:30pm
19/5/2023 Punjab Kings Rajasthan Royals Dharamshala 7:30pm
20/5/2023 Delhi Capitals Chennai Super Kings Delhi 3:30pm
20/5/2023 Kolkata Knight Riders Lucknow Super Giants Kolkata 7:30pm
21/5/2023 Mumbai Indians Sunrisers Hyderabad Mumbai 3:30pm
21/5/2023 Royal Challengers Bangalore Gujarat Titans Bengaluru 7:30pm

MORE: Make your IPL predictions and win prizes via Dafabet

IPL 2023 team groups

Group A Group B
Mumbai Indians Chennai Super Kings
Rajasthan Royals Punjab Kings
Kolkata Knight Riders Sunrisers Hyderabad
Delhi Capitals Royal Challengers Bangalore
Lucknow Super Giants Gujarat Titans

IPL 2023 venues

Teams Venues
Chennai Super Kings MA Chidambaram Stadium
Deli Capitals Arun Jaitley Stadium
Gujarat Titans Narendra Modi Stadium
Kolkata Knight Riders Eden Gardens
Lucknow Super Giants Ekana Cricket Stadium
Mumbai Indians Wankhede Stadium
Punjab Indians IS Bindra Stadium
Rajasthan Royals Sawai Mansingh Stadium
Royal Challengers Bangalore M. Chinnaswamy Stadium
Sunrisers Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium

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Ben Miller

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Ben Miller has been writing about sport for 25 years, following all levels of football as well as boxing, MMA, athletics and tennis. He’s seen five promotions, three relegations, one World Cup winner and home games in at least three different stadiums as a result of his lifelong devotion to Brighton & Hove Albion. His main aim each week is to cover at least one game or event that does not require a last-minute rewrite.