Key takeaways
- Each team names five substitutes and may bring one of them in to replace a player from its starting XI.
- The swap can happen at the start of an innings, at the end of an over, or when a wicket falls or a batter retires.
- The replaced player takes no further part; only 11 players can bat, and the Impact Player can bowl a full four overs.
- The rule is part of the 2025–27 regulations, but the BCCI is reviewing whether to keep it for 2027 — no decision as of 27 October 2026.
- On Drem11 a substitute who comes on earns 4 points for appearing; one who is named but never used scores nothing.
The rule in one paragraph
Before each IPL match, both teams name their playing XI and five substitutes. Once the match starts, each captain may replace one player from the XI with one of those substitutes. The incoming player — the Impact Player — can bat, bowl and field like anyone else, and the player he replaces cannot return. Using the rule is optional; teams typically use it to add a specialist batter when they bat and a specialist bowler when they bowl.
How it works, step by step
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many substitutes are named? | Five, alongside the playing XI |
| When are they named? | With the playing XI, after the toss |
| How many can be used? | One per team per match |
| When can the swap happen? | Before an innings starts, at the end of an over, or when a wicket falls or a batter retires |
| Can the replaced player come back? | No — not even as a substitute fielder |
| How many players can bat? | Still only 11 |
| How much can the Impact Player bowl? | A full four overs in a complete match, however many the replaced player bowled |
| Can he finish someone else's over? | No — a player brought on mid-over cannot bowl the rest of that over |
The overseas limit
A team can never have more than four overseas players on the field. So:
- If the starting XI already has four overseas players, the Impact Player must be Indian.
- If the XI has three or fewer overseas players, the Impact Player can be overseas.
This is why many teams pick only three overseas players in the XI and keep an overseas specialist on the bench — he can come in for the second innings.
Is the rule staying for IPL 2027?
The Impact Player rule was confirmed as part of the IPL's player regulations for the 2025–2027 cycle. Since the 2026 season, though, it has been under review:
- Before the 2026 season, a majority of captains were reported to have reservations about the rule, mainly because of its effect on all-rounders.
- The BCCI asked franchises for their feedback, due by the end of August 2026.
- After the IPL Governing Council met on 15 September 2026, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal said the rule was still being discussed and that stakeholders would be consulted before a decision. Most franchises were reported to favour scrapping it, with some wanting it kept for one more season.
- The BCCI dropped the rule from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India's domestic T20 competition, in 2024 — shortly after keeping it for the IPL.
As of 27 October 2026 no decision has been announced, so the rule remains in place for now. We will update this page as soon as the BCCI confirms what happens for IPL 2027.
What it means for your fantasy team
The rule changes who plays and how much they do. These are the points that matter when you build a Drem11 team for an IPL match.
1. Wait for the substitutes list, not just the XI
The five substitutes are announced with the playing XI. Look at them before you lock: a specialist batter or bowler on the bench is the clearest hint of how a team plans to use the rule.
2. Know how Drem11 scores substitutes
On Drem11, a substitute (Impact Player, concussion or X-Factor) who actually comes on earns 4 points for appearing, plus everything he scores. A substitute who is named but never comes on scores nothing. See the full Drem11 points system.
So picking a substitute is a bet that he will be used — and that he will do something useful once he is. The safest substitute picks are players their team has used as the Impact Player in almost every match.
3. Watch for players who only do one job
A common pattern is a team swapping a batter out after its innings and bringing in a bowler, or the other way round. That means:
- A batter from the side batting first may be replaced once his innings is over. His batting points still count, but he will not take catches in the second innings.
- A bowler from the side bowling first may be replaced before his team bats — which matters little, since he was unlikely to bat high.
- Genuine all-rounders are less likely to be swapped out, because they do two jobs. That keeps them valuable captaincy options.
4. Expect deeper batting and higher totals
With an extra specialist batter available, teams can bat more aggressively, knowing the eighth or ninth batter can still score. Bowlers face hitters all the way down the order. On flat grounds this pushes totals up — check each venue guide for recent par scores.
5. Every team's habits are different
Some teams use the rule almost the same way every match; others change it with conditions. Before a match, look at how the team used its Impact Player in its last few games. Our team fantasy guides cover each squad's roles.
If the rule is scrapped
If the BCCI drops the rule for 2027, each team goes back to a fixed XI. That would make all-rounders more important again — teams would need players who can do both jobs to balance the side — and it would remove the need to pick around substitutes. We will rewrite this section once a decision is made.
Sources
- IPL, IPL Governing Council announces TATA IPL Player Regulations 2025-27, 28 September 2024.
- Wisden, Explained: IPL Impact Player, the substitution system that will debut in IPL 2023.
- Olympics.com, Impact Player rule in IPL explained.
- myKhel, IPL to scrap Impact Player rule? BCCI seeks feedback from franchises, 31 August 2026.
- India TV, Impact Player rule under consideration; IPL auction to take place in India, confirms Arun Dhumal, 16 September 2026.
- Deccan Herald, IPL 2026: Majority of captains express reservations on contentious Impact Player rule, 25 March 2026.
- Deccan Herald, BCCI scraps Impact Player rule for domestic T20 tourney after retaining it for IPL.