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New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has labelled the impact player rule as 'stupid' and 'crap'. Neesham feels that a player does not need to have a proper training day if he has to play as an impact player. He hopes that the impact player rule is abolished soon. He feels it sends a bad message to a youngster to not put in the work in the fielding department.
"It's a stupid rule. It doesn't work in the IPL. I don't know why we still have it, to be honest. It stops players from being able to prepare properly for the game. You obviously can't ever get a proper training day before the game if you think you're not playing because there's a chance that you could have to be roped into the XI at the last minute. So, you can't really develop your game” Neesham told TOI.
"It disincentivises players from working on parts of the game that they're not strong at. It means you can be a terrible fielder and it doesn't matter. So, I think overall, it's a crap rule. Hopefully, it's gone soon.
"Example, if you're a young cricketer coming through, why would you work on your fielding? Because if you're a crap fielder, you just don't field. You just go off the field. It's stupid," he continued.
Neesham had registered himself for the IPL 2026 mini-auction at a base price of Rs 1.5 crore. In the list of shortlisted players, he did not find a place.
The last time he played in the IPL was in 2022 edition, a year before the introduction of impact player rule. After getting released by Rajasthan Royals (RR), he hasn’t been picked by a franchise in the IPL.
How many IPL teams Neesham has played for?
So far, Neesham has represented four IPL franchises. In 2014, he made his debut for Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils). In IPL 2020, he played for Punjab Kings. In the next edition, he was part of Mumbai Indians' (MI) IPL-winning squad.
Neesham’s IPL career in numbers
So far, he has played 14 IPL games and scored 92 runs at an average of 10.22 and strike rate of 98.92. He has claimed eight wickets at an average of 41.75.
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