Zaheer Khan contradicts Kohli, Sharma as he turns in favor of the Impact Player Rule

Ever since its introduction in the IPL, the impact player rule has been a hot topic of discussion among cricket fans. The rule made its entry into the T20 league in the 2022 edition and has been in place since then, with every team using it religiously. However, the cricket fraternity has repeatedly questioned the viability of the rule and its effect on the game. Most opinions, both from fans and players themselves, have been against the use of the rule in the IPL. However, the impact player rule recently found a supporter in former Indian bowler Zaheer Khan. The recently appointed mentor of Lucknow Super Giants, Khan explained his stance on the impact player rule, siding with the availability of the rule in the upcoming IPL seasons.

LSG Mentor Zaheer Khan supports the Impact Player Rule

The impact player rule, which enables any team to substitute a player at any point in the game, has faced considerable criticism in the IPL. With prominent players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also opposing the rule, the BCCI discussed its future in the IPL with the franchise owners earlier this year. While the outcome of the meeting remains under wraps, former player Zaheer Khan has highlighted the flip side of the rule in the league. The newly appointed LSG mentor went on to say that the rule can ultimately aid the Indian cricket team.

"It has definitely given opportunities to a lot of uncapped Indian talents. It is something you will see in the mega auction when teams will be looking at them," he said. "That opportunity goes a long way in improving Indian cricket as a whole. The time spent in match situations is something you cannot beat. That's the biggest plus,” he added.

"As far as all-rounders are concerned, right now there is no space for a half all-rounder because of the impact sub (rule). But if you are a genuine all-rounder, (then) no one can stop you. There is always going to be a value addition with the ability with bat and ball," he further said.

Former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan recently joined the LSG camp as the team mentor, a position earlier held by Gautam Gambhir, the current head coach of the Indian cricket team. Previously, Khan was an integral part of the Mumbai Indians franchise, acting as the franchise’s director of cricket before becoming the head of global development in 2018, continuing until 2022.