New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham has made an eye-opening comment on the shortcomings of the ‘Impact Player’ rule in the IPL. The former Rajasthan Royals all-rounder claimed that this rule keeps youngsters away from improving in areas like fielding where they lack.
The Impact Player rule is a new rule that has been a part of the IPL for the last few seasons. According to the rules, a player can replace another player from the starting eleven as per the wish of the team management and can bowl as well as bat.
The first player may have completed his turn with the bat and then may be substituted, giving teams the advantage of selecting players depending on the circumstances in a game like football. However, a cricketer who is walking out of IPL believes that this rule is harmful for the development of players.
James Neesham discredits ‘Impact Player’ rule
New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham was once a regular in the playing XI for the Blackcaps, although recently he has been seriously out of favor. Additionally, players who were once valued in global T20 leagues no longer get much publicity.
Speaking to Times of India, James Neesham opined about the recent Impact Player rule in the IPL. The Kiwi star feels it is a silly rule, as it limits the extent of training for a player as they are not assured whether they will get a chance to feature in the game or not.
“It’s a stupid rule. It doesn’t work in the IPL. To be honest, I don’t know why we still have it. It prevents players from preparing properly for the game.”
“If you feel like you are not playing then obviously you can’t get proper training a day before the game because there is a possibility that you could be included in the playing XI at the last minute. So, you can’t really develop your game,” James Neesham told TOI.
“It discourages players from working on parts of the game they are not strong in” – James Neesham
In James Neesham’s opinion, players who may have some loose ends, especially on the field, are not intended to be strengthened because there is a feeling in their minds that they can be replaced after they have done their job with the bat or the ball.
“It discourages players from working on parts of the game they are not strong in. It means you can be a terrible fielder, and it doesn’t matter. So, I think overall, it’s a rubbish rule. Hopefully, it will go away soon,” Neesham added.
As an all-rounder, Jimmy Neesham gives priority to all sections of the game and fielding is a very essential thing in the game of cricket. Therefore, he was disappointed that if someone is a useless fielder, he cannot be considered due to this rule.
“For example, if you are a young cricketer, why would you work on your fielding? Because if you are a useless fielder, you don’t field. You just walk off the field. That’s stupid,” Neesham concluded.
IPL career of James Neesham
Experienced New Zealand all-rounder Neesham made his debut for Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) in 2014 and then returned to play for Punjab Kings in 2020.
He played for Mumbai Indians in 2021 and then for Rajasthan Royals as his last franchise in 2022; Since then, he has remained unsold in the IPL auction.
This season, James Neesham classified him under the 1.5 crore belt, but he was overlooked when the players were shortlisted for the final draft.
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