Tendulkar’s IPL reforms: no impact player, two-part powerplay, five overs for on
The Call for Balance in Modern T20 Cricket
The rapid evolution of T20 cricket over the last few years has undoubtedly thrilled spectators worldwide with soaring run rates and gargantuan totals. However, this shift has come at a significant cost: the delicate balance between bat and ball has been heavily compromised. Pitch conditions, shorter boundaries, and modern bat technology have left bowlers with minimal margin for error. Recognizing this growing disparity, Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game, has stepped forward with a visionary proposal. The core of his recommendations lies in Tendulkar’s IPL reforms: no impact player, two-part powerplay, five overs for on, which aims to recalibrate the tournament’s playing conditions.
Speaking at the prestigious ESPNcricinfo awards in Ahmedabad—where he was honored as the greatest international cricketer of the 21st century by an elite 25-member jury—Tendulkar did not hold back. On the eve of the IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT), the batting maestro articulated his concerns and laid out three specific, actionable changes to bring strategic depth back to the shortest format of the game.
Abolishing the Impact Player Rule
The first and most debated target of Tendulkar’s critique is the controversial Impact Player rule. Introduced ahead of the 2023 IPL season, this rule allows teams to substitute one player from their starting XI with one of five nominated substitutes at any point during the match. While designed to add tactical flexibility and excitement, the rule has had a massive compounding effect on batting depth.
“I feel there are a few things which, on a personal note that I can say, I think the impact player needs to go away,” Tendulkar stated. “I feel when in a T20 format you just have to play 20 overs, and then you are adding one more batter to that line-up. Where bowlers are already being challenged, I find that imbalance.”
By effectively allowing teams to play with 12 players, the rule removes the risk associated with a batting collapse. Teams can now pack their lineups with power-hitters, knowing they have an extra batter waiting in the dugout. This safety net has led to reckless, ultra-aggressive batting from the very first delivery, resulting in unprecedented team totals. Eliminating the Impact Player rule would force franchises to return to traditional squad construction, restoring the immense value of genuine all-rounders and requiring batsmen to value their wickets once again.
Splitting the Powerplay: A Tactical Chess Match
Beyond removing the extra batter, Tendulkar proposed a creative restructuring of the Powerplay overs. Currently, the first six overs of an innings are designated as the Powerplay, during which only two fielders are permitted outside the 30-yard circle. Tendulkar suggests dividing this phase into two distinct parts to give the fielding side more control over the game’s tempo.
Under Tendulkar’s proposed framework, the initial four overs of the innings would remain a mandatory batters’ powerplay, keeping the standard restriction of two fielders outside the ring. However, the remaining two powerplay overs would become a flexible tactical weapon for the fielding captain. These two consecutive overs could be taken at any stage of the innings, as decided by the captain, and would allow the fielding side to place one extra fielder outside the ring (bringing the total to three fielders outside).
“So you [the fielding side] are able to control the game better,” Tendulkar explained. This adjustment would introduce a fascinating tactical battle, allowing bowling captains to strategically deploy these restricted overs to stem the flow of runs when a partnership is threatening to run away with the game.
Unleashing the Five-Over Bowler
Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of Tendulkar’s blueprint is altering the bowling quota limits. In the current T20 format, a bowler is strictly capped at a maximum of four overs per innings, which constitutes 20% of the total overs. In contrast, a top-order batsman has the opportunity to bat through the entire 20 overs, occupying 100% of the batting innings if they remain undefeated.
To address this systemic inequality, Tendulkar advocates for allowing one standout bowler from each side to bowl a maximum of five overs. He argued, “One bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. Because invariably the best bowler of the side is going to bowl that fifth over. Wouldn’t you want to see that best bowler bowl more? The top batters are batting sometimes even 20 overs. Why shouldn’t the best bowler be bowling five overs?”
Allowing a team’s premium strike bowler to deliver five overs would create high-drama matchups. Captains could hold back their star bowler for critical moments, whether to break a crucial partnership in the middle overs or to deliver an extra over at the death. This change would elevate the standard of bowling displays and provide a direct counter to the relentless onslaught of modern batting lineups.
The Path Forward for the IPL
As the IPL looks to maintain its status as the world’s premier domestic T20 league, the feedback from legends like Tendulkar cannot be ignored. The implementation of Tendulkar’s IPL reforms: no impact player, two-part powerplay, five overs for on could mark a turning point in how the game is played and strategized. By removing the artificial safety net of the twelfth player, introducing flexible powerplay dynamics, and empowering elite bowlers to have a greater say in the game’s outcome, cricket can move closer to a fair, captivating, and balanced contest between bat and ball.
