IPL 2024: Ponting joins Rohit in bashing Impact Player rule, calls it nightmare for coaches

DelhiCapitals’head coach Ricky Ponting has joined Rohit Sharma as another high-profile athlete to bash themost-talked-about Impact Player Rulein the Indian Premier League. Although Ponting admits disliking this rule, calling it a nightmare for the coaches, hedoesn'tmind its continuation as long as fans enjoy it.

A day after Mumbai Indians legend Rohit called out this new rule, introduced in IPL last season, as something that kills the development of all-rounders in the larger picture, Ponting joined him in sharing his thoughts on it.

Per the rule, any team, at any given time during a game, can replace anyone with one of the five substitutes mentioned before the toss, changing thematch’sequation in a moment.

Although those following this game understand this rule, Ponting feels ifa commonperson finds ittougherto understand it and if that, by any means, disrupts his enjoyment in any way, thenwhat’sthe point?

“Ican answer it in two ways,"Ponting said during a conversation with ESPNcricinfo."It'dbereallyinterestingto hear what the public thinks about it. If the everyday viewer really likes it and thinksit'sgood,thenit can continue.”

"If the average person gets a bit confused by it anddoesn'tknowwhat'sgoing on - an Impact Player here, someone goes in, someone comes out - if they are confused by it [then you have a rethink].At the end of the day,we'vegot to think about the productthat'sgoing there and whateveryone'swatchingas well,”Punter, as most fans call him, continued.

‘Anightmare for the coaches’

While picking a final XI is already a tedious task for the captain and the coach, thinking of naming another player over and above it mounts pressure on the decision-makers.

Ponting added that considering how well the players played in the pre-game session, the management takes a call in naming the final XI and list of Impact subs for a particular game.

"From aplayer'spointandacoach'spoint of view, the game would be much easier if you just pick 11, just pick your best 11 and put the 11 on the park and go and play,"Ponting said.

"BecauseI'lltell you now,we'llsit back after training tonight and select our teams, andyou'vegot to pick two teams, andyou'vegot to have your five impact guys.

"There'sso many different ways you can go around doing that, looking at different combinations. It actually can be a bit of a nightmare,"headded.