BCCI Warns IPL Captains on Catches, Impact Player Rule Stays Till 2027
At the annual captains’ meeting in Mumbai ahead of IPL 2026, BCCI put all ten skippers on notice over incomplete catches — making clear a dismissal only counts once the fielder has full control of both the ball and their body before any celebration begins.
BCCI head of match referees Javagal Srinath and umpire panel chief Nitin Menon led the 90-minute session, showing video clips of catches ruled invalid at the recent T20 World Cup to drive the point home.
On the Impact Player debate, a franchise member confirmed: “It was made clear to all of us that the Impact Player rule is here to stay for at least two more seasons” — with any review pushed to after the 2027 season.
Not everyone is happy. Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel was blunt: “I don’t like this rule, honestly, because I am an all-rounder. Earlier, you would pick an all-rounder for both batting and bowling. Because of this rule, teams now prefer specialists.”
Introduced in 2023, the Impact Sub allows teams to replace any player in their XI at any stage of the game — a rule that critics say is steadily eroding the all-rounder’s place in T20 cricket.