The captain of the Gujarat Titans Shubman Gill did not hesitate to share his opinion on Impact Player rule in the IPL. The GT captain says that the Impact Player removes skill out of the game and renders it more friendly to the batters, which is why he does not like the rule.
The Impact Player rule came up in conversation with Shubman Gill in the pre-season news conference of the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. Some captains have been reported to be dissatisfied with its existing Impact Player rule before IPL 2026.
Given what he had to say regarding the Impact Player rule, it appears that Gill was one of those few names:
“Personally for me, I don’t think there should be Impact Player. I think cricket in general is an 11-player game, and on wickets where we play, on the grounds that we play, adding an extra batsman is, I think, it takes the skill out of the game.”
Gill added that more thrilling games result from pursuing 160 or 180 without an Impact Player on challenging pitches than from chasing 220–240 with an Impact Player on flat decks. The Impact Player rule, in his opinion, rendered the game more flat.
“So I mean it’s going to be there till 2027, it’s something that we also spoke about in the captains’ meeting yesterday,” Gill added.?
In 2023, the Impact Player rule IPL came into effect. Since then, teams have managed to chase down targets exceeding 200 with far greater ease; consequently, scoring rates in Indian Premier League matches have risen significantly.
“I don’t like it that much”- Shubman Gill gives his honest take on the Impact Player rule
Shubman Gill stated at the same news conference that while the Impact Player rule makes the game more enjoyable for viewers, he does not really like it.
“I understand it makes the game bit more entertaining but let’s see, it’s there, it’s up to them what the BCCI is going to take their decision but personally I don’t like it that much,” Shubman Gill concluded.
In IPL 2026, the Impact Player rule will remain in place. This year’s Gujarat Titans IPL games will be interesting to watch how captain Gill employs the Impact Player.
