Even before the start of the new season of the Indian Premier League, a special rule has again come into discussion, about which most of the teams are still not happy. This is the impact player rule, which is being used in IPL for the last 2 seasons. Many captains, players and coaches have expressed their disagreement regarding this. This is happening this time too, where captains like Hardik Pandya and Akshar Patel have expressed their dislike. Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill believes something similar but his coach Ashish Nehra has a completely different thinking and believes that it does not make much difference.

The first match of Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 season starting from Saturday 28th March is against Punjab Kings on 31st March. Before going to Chandigarh for this match, Gujarat Titans organized a press conference, in which coach Ashish Nehra and captain Shubman Gill attended. During this, both of them were questioned about the impact player and there was a difference of opinion between the coach and the captain.

‘No impact player’

When Team India’s former fast bowler and GT coach Nehra was asked about the impact of the Impact Player rule and the changes it is bringing in the game, he clearly said that the game has not changed much.

Nehra said, “I don’t think the game has changed much. There are the same stumps, the same ball and the same length of the pitch. Unless it changes, I don’t think anything will change. I believe that there is an impact player rule, the ball is wet… when the ball swings a little, turns, the batsmen get worried but that kind of pitch is not being made.”

Nehra further said, “I don’t think there has been an inch of change in the game, even if it is T20 cricket.

Even if there is an impact player rule, 300 runs are not being scored every time. If the top batsmen play well, then only those runs will be scored, even if you take 8 or 9 (batsmen). Making 300 runs is not a joke.”

Captain Gill’s thinking is different

That means Nehra doesn’t think it makes much difference. But Captain Gill has a different opinion. He believes that playing an extra batsman changes the game. During the same press conference, Gill said, “Personally, I feel that there should not be an impact player. Cricket is a game of only 11 players, and with the kind of ground and wicket we play on, I think adding an extra batsman to the team takes away the skills in the game…An extra batsman is making the game even.”