How to use the impact player rule in Fantasy Cricket

IPL isn’t just about cricket; it is also about entertainment. Since the inception of the Indian Premier League, considerable effort has been put into making it more interesting. As a part of this effort, we see new rules coming up every season, and for good. A new rule, making waves this season, is the “Impact Player Rule”. Another cricket-related phenomenon that is as popular as the IPL is Fantasy League. So if you are a fantasy cricket player and wondering how to use the impact player rule in Fantasy Cricket, read on.

What does Impact player mean?

As per the new rule, team captains can now plan 2 different teams for the match. And, unlike in the past, they don’t need to exchange the team sheets before the toss.

The rule gives flexibility to the captains to choose which team do they want to play with depending on the outcome of the toss. So technically, now a captain can plan for two teams with a different set of players, depending on whether they will be batting or bowling first. This definitely makes the play more interesting and will result in more competitive cricket.

However, if this isn’t enough, the rule also allows the captain to name five substitute players. This is a big leap from the practice of naming a single 12th man as it used to be earlier. One of these 5 substitute players will be designated as the Impact player. The impact player will be allowed to play the game even without any substitution.

However, there is a limitation to who can be named as an impact player. IPL rules state that any team can use a maximum of four foreign members playing in a match. Hence, if the announced team is already playing four foreign players then the impact player will have to be an Indian only. If the number of foreign players in the playing team is less than four then the impact player could be either an Indian or a foreign player.

It is important to note that there is no compulsion to use an Impact Player. It is entirely up to the captain if he wants to use the impact player during the game. However, before using an impact player the on-field umpire must be notified by either the manager, head coach, or the captain of the team.

Possible impacts of the impact player rule?

Like every other rule, captains and franchisees will soon find more and more ways to take advantage of the rule. It is too early to comment on how this new rule will change IPL strategies. However, there are a few obvious outcomes that we can foresee

Team selection as per the toss outcome

The rule has reduced the importance of the toss to a great extent and handed over more power to the captains. The captains will now choose their two teams based on the on-ground conditions. Let’s take an example of a pitch that will have dew in the second half of the game. Now, if the toss-winning captain chooses to bat first, on such a pitch, he will choose a team with batting power. He will use an extra batter to ensure that the team gathers as many runs as possible under favourable conditions. Later, when the team has to bowl, the captain will replace the extra batter with a star pacer.

At the same time, the other captain will choose a team that will have an extra bowler, perhaps an extra spinner, to slow down the batting team. When it is their turn to bat, the captain can switch this extra bowler with a player who’s known to bat well in the dew.

Less than four foreign players on the team

The first logical decision for most captains could be playing three foreign players, more often if not always. This would allow them to name their star international batter or bowler as the impact player.

All-rounders playing more often in the team?

For the reasons stated above, the teams will choose allrounders more in the playing eleven. This is because they will be useful in both bowling and batting and can’t be replaced in the second inning. Hence, we will rarely see an allrounder being named as an impact player.

Going by the same logic, things can look different for certain teams. For well-balanced teams with a strong lineup for batting and bowling, all-rounders might be dispensable. However, since the all-rounders will be able to contribute in batting as well as bowling they might be the perfect choice as impact players. For example, if a bowler isn’t doing well then the all-rounder can be brought in to help. At the same time, if the batting lineup isn’t holding then the all-rounder can replace a bowler with weak batting skills.

When can an Impact player be introduced in the game?

An impact player can be introduced in the game at any time before or after the start of the innings, except in the middle of an over. However, there are 2 exceptions to this rule. First, the impact player can join the game at the fall of a wicket, even if the running over isn’t complete. Second, in case a player is retiring during an over. However, if a bowler is retiring mid-over then the impact bowler cannot complete the retired player’s over.

Another exception to this is that an impact player cannot be used in a game if the match is reduced to less than 10 over per side. It is to be noted that the player replaced by the impact player cannot return to the game under any circumstances.

How does the Impact Player rule affect the Fantasy League?

If you are a small-league player then you don’t need to worry much about this new rule. If you are playing head-to-head or within a group of fewer than 10 users, you will experience little or no impact of the new rule. This is because all the players are going to choose the playing eleven members only. Smaller leagues are played on consistency and therefore most players will choose the playing eleven.

When it comes to the Grand league the stakes are really high and players are willing to take risks. You should watch out for the pitch conditions and also who is named as the Impact player. If you feel that the team is playing with a strategy to bring in a star player as an impact player then you can choose the impact player as your Captain or vice-captain.

You may wonder why are we suggesting this. Firstly, because the impact player will be rested and fresh and hence will be able to perform better than others. Secondly, the team manager and the captain understand the right reason for keeping a star player as an impact player. So, you can trust their strategy. Thirdly, the grand league is all about taking risks for big rewards and this will be a very calculated risk for you.

There is no doubt that the impact player rule will have a big impact on the fantasy league for IPL. If you have any new ideas, info, or strategies to make the best use of the new rule then do let us know in the comments. You may also be interested in reading more Fantasy Cricket Tips on Piccle.