Indian Premier League (IPL) introduced the Impact Player rule in the 2023 season, which allowed the teams to be flexible with their playing XI. As a result, all the teams got the free hand to choose an extra bowler or batter depending on what they had chosen to do after calling rightly at the coin flip.
As per the rule, IPL teams could name five substitutes apart from the playing XI after the toss. There’s no restriction on the specialisation of players to be named as substitutes; all could be batters or bowlers, depending on the team’s choice.
The Impact Player, when notified by a team to the on-field umpire, has to be from only those five substitute players. A team can announce the change at any point in the match.
Here are the five most instrumental performances from Impact Players in IPL 2023:
1. Venkatesh Iyer (83 runs of 40 balls) vs Gujarat Titans (GT)
Venkatesh Iyer has been one of the most consistent performers for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2023. He scored 404 runs in fourteen innings. In the 13th match of the tournament, KKR were chasing a total of 204 runs against the GT. They were in trouble at 28/2 when Iyer came to the crease as an Impact Player. He played a brilliant knock of 83 runs off 40 balls to help KKR win the match by three wickets. Iyer’s innings was full of stroke-making, and he hit eight fours and five sixes. He also displayed great composure and batted with a lot of responsibility. His innings was the match’s turning point, and it helped KKR to register a crucial win.
2. Ayush Badoni (30 of 24 balls) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
RCB locked horns with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 15th match of IPL 2023. Lucknow won the toss and decided to field first. Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell scored useful runs for their side by not giving the Lucknow bowlers a chance to make any comeback. As a result, RCB successfully put in the humongous total of 212 runs.
Chasing the target of 213, LSG at one stage were 30 runs at the loss of three wickets and then were reduced to 105 with half of the batting side back to the dressing room. It was up to Nicholas Pooran and Impact Player Ayush Badoni to bail them out of trouble. The duo put together an 84-run stand for the sixth wicket off just 35 balls to change the momentum of the game in Lucknow’s favour. Pooran (62 runs off 19 balls) was the aggressor in the partnership.
After Pooran got dismissed, Badoni kept the scoreboard ticking, putting LSG on the verge of victory. The youngster piled on 30 runs off 24 deliveries, which comprised four boundaries. Eventually, KL Rahul & Co. won the game by one wicket in a last-ball thriller.
3. Nehal Wadhera (23 runs of 12 balls) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
In a thrilling Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Wadhera emerged as a saviour for Mumbai Indians (MI) when he joined the team as an Impact Player. In his short innings of 12 deliveries, the southpaw launched a ferocious assault and scored 23 runs.
His strong innings comprised two humongous sixes and an equal number of fours, leaving the spectators in awe of his brilliance. Wadhera’s explosive knock helped MI to set a formidable target of 182 runs, which appeared impossible at one point. The knock proved useful as Lucknow’s batting line-up fell like a pack of cards under the pressure of chasing a big total.
4. Suyash Sharma (3 wickets in 4 overs) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Suyash Sharma is a young Indian cricketer who plays for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL. He is a right-arm-leg spinner who bowls with a lot of control and variation. Sharma was the revelation for KKR this season. One of Sharma’s best performances came against RCB in Match 9 of the IPL 2023. RCB were chasing a target of 205 runs and got a great start in the powerplay. However, Sharma came in and picked up the wickets of Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik and Karn Sharma. This turned the tide in KKR’s favour, and they eventually won the game by a huge margin of 81 runs.
5. Dhruv Jurel (32 runs of 15 balls) vs Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Dhruv Jurel was among the most impressive Rajasthan Royals (RR) players in the IPL 2023. In the 8th match of the tournament, RR were chasing a total of 197 runs against PBKS. They were in trouble at 91/4 in the 11th over when Jurel walked in to the crease. He played a brilliant knock of 32 runs off 15 balls. His knock was full of power-hitting; he scored three fours and two sixes. Jurel also displayed great timing and hit the ball all over the park. However, his innings couldn’t help Rajasthan reach the finish line; though it gave RR a solid player in form of Dhruv.
