IPL 2026: Axar Patel criticises Impact Player rule, calls it unfavourable for all-rounders

Axar Patel, the captain of Delhi Capitals, has openly expressed his reservations about the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), stating that it reduces the involvement of all-rounders in the game. As a player who contributes with both bat and ball, Axar believes the rule can limit opportunities for multi-dimensional cricketers to influence matches fully.

However, he clarified that the rule was not the primary reason behind his reduced bowling workload during IPL 2025. Instead, Axar revealed that a finger injury significantly impacted his ability to bowl regularly throughout the season. DC, finished fifth in IPL 2025, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot.

For Axar personally, it was a challenging campaign with the ball. He bowled the fewest overs in a season since 2018 and managed to pick up only five wickets, ending with an average of 57.60, his least effective return in seven years.

“I don’t like this rule, honestly, because I am an all-rounder (laughs). Earlier, you would pick an allrounder for batting and bowling. Because of this rule, the team management goes for a particular batsman or bowler, thinking ‘Why do we need an allrounder?’. Since I am an allrounder, I don’t like the rule. At the same time, rules are rules and we need to follow them. From a personal point of view though, I don’t like the rule,” said Axar as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“The 2025 Champions Trophy was right before the IPL. During CT, my spinning finger sustained a cut: when I was bowling, because of the seam of the ball, it kept getting cut further. It turned into a deep cut. Because of that, I couldn’t put pressure and rotation on the ball. I was bowling less because of that. I was thinking of bowling only wherever needed and saving my finger. After seven matches, when my finger healed, I resumed bowling. It was not because of the Impact Player rule,” he added.

Axar has evolved significantly as a T20 cricketer over the years, developing into a versatile all-rounder capable of adapting to multiple roles within a team. Whether playing for India or in the IPL, his flexibility has become one of his biggest strengths. In T20Is, Axar has been used across a wide range of batting positions, from No. 3 to No. 9. When asked about handling different roles and whether he has a preferred batting position, Axar made it clear that he prioritises the team’s needs over personal preference.

“You’ve seen me be the same for so many years: whatever the team requires, I do that. That’s why the tag of crisis-man has come up. I take up the role as per the team’s requirement, be it a finisher or a middle-order batter. We keep discussing: if a person is scoring four in two, or twelve in two, or 80 runs as an opener: all those roles are important for the team,” said Axar.

“I go with the same mindset again and again: whatever needs to be done, I will play that role. Because if you don’t get what you want, you will only get angry and disappointed. And the same thing will affect your game. That’s why I keep the team’s priorities at the forefront. When you are open to that, you give your 100%. You’re not readying your mind for one particular position. I am prepared for every role. I am fit to do that. If you don’t think that way, you are limiting yourself. And if you don’t get what you want, you feel down and don’t give your 100%,” he added.

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