IPL 2020 News: BCCI pondering over Power Player to ‘change the game’

BCCI pondering over Power Player: A new ‘Power Player’ rule is being discussed to make the T20 format more interesting.

With the date for the IPL 2020 auction finalized a month ago, all franchises are likely to thoroughly prepare for the day which could dictate how their campaign will go in the next season of the Indian Premier League.

While the players will be bought next month, franchises have already made changes to their support staff. Ahead of the upcoming season, as many as five franchises namely Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, SunRisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals have named a new coach.

If reports are to be believed, a novel development is in stores for both fans and players in IPL 2020. In a recent interview with IANS, a BCCI source has opened up on introducing a “Power Player” for this season. The rule might be experimented in the upcoming season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2019.

BCCI pondering over Power Player in IPL 2020

“We are looking at a scenario where a team will not name the Playing XI. They will announce the 15 and a player can be substituted at either the fall of a wicket or at the end of the over at any point in the game. While we are looking to introduce it in the IPL, trying the concept first in the upcoming Mushtaq Ali Trophy could be the ideal way forward,” the source was quoted as saying.

Elaborating on the situations where the Power Player can be used, the source mentioned how the rule has the potential to “change the game”. While it hasn’t been mentioned, one believes a team will be allowed to avail the opportunity once during a match.

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“Imagine you need 20 runs off the last six balls and you have Andre Russell sitting in the dug-out as he wasn’t a hundred percent and wasn’t part of the original XI. But now, he can just walk in and go slam-bang and win you the game.

“Similarly, say you need to defend six runs off the last over and you have someone like a Jasprit Bumrah sitting in the dug-out. So, what does the captain do? Brings in Bumrah at the end of the 19th over and there you go. The concept has the potential to change the game,” the source added.

In what sounds interesting from the outside, only time will tell if the aforementioned rule will be implemented or not. It is worth mentioning that the substitute rule didn’t last long in the ODI format some years ago.