IPL 2024: Kohli backs Rohit in bashing ‘Impact Player’ rule, says entertainment is fine but it kills balance

India and RCB legend Virat Kohli has backed his teammate Rohit Sharma in bashing the ‘Impact Player’ rule, saying it kills the balance between bat and ball. Kohli leads the run-scoring chart with over 600 runs in 13 contested matches this season, striking at over 155.

Although he admitted that this season was slightly more exciting than previous editions, mostlybecause of that, the Indian legend pin-pointed the loopholes in this newest addition to the Indian Premier League.

During an exclusive chat with Jio Cinema ahead of the marquee IPL 2024 clash between the RCB and CSK in Bengaluru, Kohli said he likes the idea of making this game a bit more entertaining by introducing such rules but rues that its impact is killing the balance.

“I agree with Rohit. Entertainment is one aspect of the game, but there is no balance,” Kohli said on Jio Cinema.

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Last month, former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma was the first star figure to come out with his view on this new rule, saying it has reduced the importance of all-rounders in the team – a crucial aspect in any format. Besides, cricket legend and Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting also came hard on the Impact Player rule, saying it’s a nightmare for the coaches and the captains.

“Bowlers are feeling like what they should do,” Kohli said. “We are playing a high level of cricket, and it should not be that dominantinmy opinion. There is a beauty about having an equal balance between bat and ball,” he continued.

‘It helped a bitthough’

While Kohli sounded sceptical about Impact Player rule’s future in the tournament, he admitted to making the most of it anyway. Like every team, his franchise also gets a chance to play an extra batter, and Kohli upped his game, playing at a strike rate of over 200 in the first six overs.

“Not every team has a Bumrah (Jasprit) or the mystery of Rashid Khan,” he said. “I am telling you, with one extra batter, there is a reason I am playing with 200 plus strike rate in the Powerplays. I know there is a batsman waiting at No. 8 as well.”

“I think it has disrupted the balance, anda lot ofpeople are feeling this waynotjust me,” he added.

Meanwhile, RCBneeds tobeat CSK to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.