“Virat Kohli Jokes at Critics: ‘Previously, My Aggression Was an Issue; Now It’s My Composure’: A Commentary on the Evolution of His Career” | Cricket News
21.03.2025
### Indian Premier League Analysis: Assessing the Influence of the Impact Player
#### By Deepu Narayanan
The introduction of the Impact Player rule has undeniably transformed the batting strategy within the Indian Premier League (IPL). Initially, there were concerns that this rule might adversely affect India’s prospects in T20 Internationals. However, these fears were dispelled when the Indian team clinched the T20 World Cup in 2024, marking their first victory since the inception of the IPL.
The Impact Player rule has significantly liberated batsmen in the IPL, leading to a record-breaking year in 2024. There have been more instances of teams surpassing the 200-run mark in this IPL era than during the first ten seasons of the tournament. Of the ten highest-ever IPL scores exceeding 250, nine have occurred since 2023, with eight recorded in 2024 alone. The scoring rate has escalated dramatically, with teams scoring an entire additional run per over (9.56) in 2024 compared to 2022 (8.54), prior to the rule’s implementation. Although a more cavalier approach towards wickets has resulted in more frequent dismissals, the increased run rates have compensated, thus elevating the batting average.
This evolution has also resonated at the national level, with India’s post-World Cup T20I run rate reaching an impressive 9.90 runs per over. The team has set two record high scores in T20Is between ICC Full Member nations during this period, winning 17 out of 20 matches. This article delves into the intricacies of how the Impact Player has unleashed a new era of aggressive batting.
#### Evaluating Batting Approach: First Five Ball Strike Rate (FFB SR)
One benchmark for analyzing the change in batting mentality is the strike rate of batsmen during their first five deliveries. Traditionally, this phase is crucial as batsmen tend to be most unsteady before acclimating to the pitch conditions. The analysis compares two distinct periods: the two seasons following the rule’s introduction (2023-24) and the preceding two seasons (2021-22).
**Aggressive Initiatives from the Outset:**
The Impact Player has influenced teams to perceive wickets as less sacrosanct, thus emboldening batsmen to adopt an attacking stance earlier in their innings. The frequency of attacking shots in the initial phase (first five balls) has increased from 51.7% in 2021-22 to 58.1% recently. While the proportion of deliveries defended remains steady (14.2% in 2021-22 vs. 14.8% in 2023-24), the preference for boundary-seeking shots at the inception of innings underscores this aggression. The surge in sixes, more pronounced than the rise in fours, indicates increased willingness to hit aerially early on—a stark departure from pre-Impact Player strategies.
#### Over-by-Over Scoring Comparisons
Across various overs, the run rate has increased from the 2021-22 to the 2023-24 period, except for a minor dip in the 18th over. Notably, the second and third overs have witnessed over 20% growth in run rates, underscoring a more aggressive approach within the Powerplay overs. Of the innings’ three phases—Powerplay, middle, and death—the Powerplay exhibits the most significant rate increase at 16.9%, compared to 9.7% and 8.6% respectively for the others. The additional batting depth facilitated by the Impact Player tends to initiate the “death” overs earlier.
#### Position-Specific Strike Rate Analysis
Analyzing the FFB SR across batting positions, openers demonstrate the highest increase, 23.8%, markedly higher than the average 14.4% increase across all positions. The next significant surges occur at positions #8 and #9, over 20% each, highlighting the enhanced depth and flexibility introduced by the Impact Player rule.
**Team Performance under the Impact Player Regime:**
The Impact Player rule, adopted slightly before the IPL 2023, found an early proponent in Chennai Super Kings (CSK). CSK’s top eight batsmen boasted a FFB SR of 123.64, second only to Mumbai Indians’ (MI) 127.10, while managing risks with significantly longer innings (dismissed every 53.1 balls compared to MI’s 20.7). Key contributors were MS Dhoni, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shivam Dube, instrumental in CSK’s championship victory. Conversely, Punjab Kings (PBKS), initially ahead in 2022, slipped behind despite their impressive initial FFB SR, culminating in bottom-half finishes post-Impact Player.
In 2024, IPL finalists Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) emerged as top performers, with striking increases in their FFB SR. KKR witnessed a 32.3% uptick, while SRH’s surge was largely powered by their openers, notably Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.
**Top Order Transition:**
The most prominent shift due to the Impact Player rule has been at the top order during the Powerplay. From 2023 onwards, openers attacked 53.5% of first five balls, compared to 45.5% prior. Amongst consistent openers since 2023, Travis Head leads with an FFB SR of 171, followed by Prithvi Shaw at 160, with notable drops from those like Phil Salt and Yashasvi Jaiswal marking the shift in dynamics.
#### The Enigma of Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine’s resurgence at the top, with an extraordinary 488 runs at a strike rate of 180.74, was pivotal in KKR’s IPL 2024 triumph. Despite averaging lower in other T20s before and after IPL 2024, Narine’s luck, with a high false shot percentage not proportionate to dismissals, played a significant role. Partnering with Phil Salt at the outset, Narine’s aggressive 84.3% attack rate during initial overs, albeit with a low strike rate, was instrumental for KKR.
#### MS Dhoni’s Renaissance
The advent of the Impact Player rule has revitalized MS Dhoni’s IPL career. Striking at 203.85 and averaging 37.86 in recent outings, Dhoni’s improved performance is attributed to optimized entry points and a higher percentage of seam-facing deliveries during early innings. His excellent FFB SR of 189.61 underscores this resurgent phase.
#### Visual Analysis
A scatter plot illustrating FFB SR and improvement rates for players with at least ten innings in both periods reveals big gainers like Dhoni, Nicholas Pooran, and Shivam Dube, while early starters like Narine and Livingstone struggle to maintain the pace of previous years. Slow starters, such as KL Rahul and David Warner, remain consistent, whereas standout performers like Prithvi Shaw lead across both timelines.
This comprehensive analysis delineates the transformative impact of the Impact Player rule, highlighting how it has fostered a more aggressive batting paradigm across the IPL since its introduction.
