Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head coach Stephen Fleming admitted that the bowlers didn’t execute well in the death overs but blamed batting-friendly conditions and the impact player rule for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) posting 250/3 on the board. Fleming said the impact player rule has led to batters playing without fear and it is difficult for bowlers to perform in conditions not favouring them.
“You’ve got no fear because you’ve got an extra player, and what’s happened is players have developed an attitude where they can just take on anything. So, look, it’s very difficult when there’s no assistance, and you’re going to get cameos and performances like this when conditions are so good,” he said as quoted by Indian Express.
Fleming questioned whether there is a place for all-rounders in the IPL format anymore. He feels the balance between bat and ball is a little off as it has become a game for dashers. He also wondered whether impact player role is here to stay or will be it be scrapped in the upcoming seasons.
“I am not sure how much longer it’s here, or if it’s here to stay, but that certainly changes the dynamic of cricket and probably sways it a little bit towards batting power,” he said.
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“So again, you say, how long is the impact player rule here? Will all-rounders come back into the game, or will it continue to be a game of dashers? I don’t know. I’d like to see the balance between bat and ball a little bit more,” he opined.
Stark difference in CSK and RCB’s impact player usage
Against RCB, CSK used their Rs 14.20 crore recruit Kartik Sharma as impact player, replacing left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed. Kartik got off the mark with a six but lost his wicket to left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya.
Meanwhile, RCB subbed out half-centurion Devdutt Padikkal for leg-spinner Suyash Sharma. The young leggie was introduced in the second half of CSK's run chase. He kept a lid on the boundaries, conceding just 21 runs from his quota of four overs. He also dismissed a free-flowing Jamie Overton who scored 37 runs from 16 balls, featuring four sixes and two sixes. The wicket of Overton turned out to be the final nail in the coffin of CSK's run chase.