South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder has questioned the impact player rule, saying it makes life difficult for genuine all-rounders in modern cricket. The 28-year-old believes that this rule reduces opportunities for players who can contribute with both bat and ball, especially during a busy international schedule.
Mulder is currently representing the Texas Super Kings in the 2026 Major League Cricket season. He has scored 160 runs in eight matches at an average of 40.00 and strike rate of 145.45. He has taken 4 wickets with the ball at an economy rate of 10.84. TSK is at the bottom of the table with just 3 wins from 8 matches.
What takes away my greatest strength – Wiaan Mulder on the Impact Player rule
Wiaan Mulder believes the impact player rule has diminished the value of genuine all-rounders in T20 cricket. He said that this rule takes away his biggest strength to contribute with both bat and ball.
Speaking to Times of India, Viaan Mulder said:
“I think one of the reasons you’re asking me this is because it takes me out of the game. The impact player rule takes away my biggest strengths, which is batting and bowling and bringing balance to the team.
I think it’s great for the fans because teams can score 200 at almost any level. The batting order goes all the way down and you see players like Venkatesh Iyer coming in at number 9 and scoring a half-century off 25 balls to win the game.
So it’s definitely good for the spectators and probably the business side of the game. But as a cricketer and someone who loves the game, I enjoy the tactical battle, the cat and mouse aspect of cricket. The Impact Player rule takes some of that away and makes it a one-sided competition.”
Personally, I would prefer it if it weren’t there – Vianne Mulder
Wiaan Mulder admitted that the rule has worked well in the IPL and encouraged more aggressive batting. He also praised the bowlers for adapting to the change by improving their accuracy, but added that he would still prefer a game without the impact player rule.
He further added, “Has it worked in the IPL? Absolutely. It has given batsmen tremendous freedom and forced bowlers to be incredibly accurate. Personally, though, I would prefer if it wasn’t there.”
High-scoring matches continue to fuel debate
The Impact Player rule, introduced ahead of the 2023 IPL season, has changed the way teams build their playing eleven. Franchises can use an additional specialist batsman before replacing a specialist bowler, reducing the need for traditional all-rounders to balance the team.
This change has also led to a sharp increase in high-scoring matches. Before the rule was implemented, the IPL usually had less than 10 totals of 200 or more in a season. This number increased to 52 in 2025 and reached 65 during the 2026 edition, with more than 45 percent of innings crossing the 200-run mark.
This rule continues to divide opinion within the cricket community. Several IPL captains have reportedly supported the review of the regulation, but the BCCI and broadcasters continue to support it because of the entertainment and high scoring in the tournament.
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