IPL: Which teams have best maximised batting resources since Impact Player rule adoption in 2023?

IPL: Which teams have adapted best to the Impact Player era by strengthening their batting across all phases since 2023?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced the ‘Impact Player Rule’ in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a tactical innovation in T20 cricket. The idea was to allow teams to substitute one player from their starting eleven with a designated substitute from a list of five players named at the toss.

This substitute player can bat or bowl their full quota of four overs, turning the standard 11-a-side match into a 12-a-side contest. Many veteran players have expressed concern that it could hurt Team India by limiting the emergence of future all-rounders. Meanwhile, teams have taken full advantage of the rule, maximizing the batting resources.

RCB power their batting with ‘Impact player’ rule
Since the beginning of IPL 2023, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have recorded the best strike rate (153.85) during the powerplay. Inside the first six overs, they have smashed 298 boundaries and 102 maximums for 2437 runs. Meanwhile, the inaugural champions, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) are second in the list with a strike rate of 152.84 with the Mumbai Indians (MI) nailing the most sixes (124).

Top 4 teams in terms of Powerplay strike rate since IPL 2023

MI’s powerful middle overs since IPL 2023
Between the seventh and 15th over of the innings in the last three years of the IPL, Bengaluru continue to blossom with a powerful strike rate of 143.65. Mumbai Indians (MI) have the highest strike rate of 144.84 in this qualification. However, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) are jointly at the top of six-hitting with 172 over boundaries during the middle overs.

Top 4 teams in terms of Middle overs strike rate since IPL 2023

Read More: Which team has the best batting firepower after IPL 2026 Auction?

RCB crack death overs since IPL 2023 under ‘impact player’ rule
When wickets remain in hand, teams have the luxury to explore in the last five overs. Bengaluru seem to have cracked the ‘Impact Player’ rule with the second best strike rate of 176.13 during the last five overs since 2023 after Punjab’s 183.52. Subsequently, the Punjab Kings have nailed the most sixes (152) in overs 16-20 in the last three years.

Top 4 teams in terms of death overs strike rate since IPL 2023

Read More: The making of a modern T20 finisher

Team’s overall strike rate rise after ‘impact player’ rule
Between IPL 2020 and 2022, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had the best strike rate of 136.80 in the IPL. However, in terms of sixes, Rajasthan Royals (332), Mumbai Indians (313), and Punjab Kings (301) are the only three teams to cross 300 sixes.

Meanwhile, the strike rates of the teams have rocketed to another level after the introduction of the impact player rule in 2023. Bengaluru’s overall strike rate of 153.99 is the best since 2023 with Punjab (419) and Mumbai (416) crossing the 400-mark in number of sixes being hit.

Top 4 teams in terms of strike rate between IPL 2020 and 2022

Top 4 teams in terms of strike rate since IPL 2023

Read More: Top 5 Orange Cap contenders in IPL 2026

No slow-down in strike rates since ‘Impact player’ rule in IPL
In case of individual contributions, Yashasvi Jaiswal is the only batter to cross the 1000-run mark since IPL 2023 inside the powerplay. He has got these runs at a strike rate of nearly 170 while Virat Kohli has smacked 992 runs at 151.91.

Rohit Sharma has hit the most sixes (46) in this period, followed by Jaiswal’s 44. Travis Head has registered four fifties in this qualification, which is an impressive record. 

Top 4 run-getters in terms of powerplay strike rate since IPL 2023

Sky’s 172.49 strike rate in middle overs since IPL 2023
In the middle overs, Suryakumar Yadav has not slowed down keeping the impact player rule in mind. The T20 World Cup-winning captain has collected 1185 runs at a strike rate of 172.49. Meanwhile, Nicholas Pooran has clubbed the most sixes (56) in this period followed by SKY (55). 

Top 4 run-getters in terms of middle overs strike rate since IPL 2023

Read More: What makes Heinrich Klaasen a batting powerhouse – A closer look

Tim David’s powerful death overs since IPL 2023
Tim David has cracked the death overs with the strike rate of 182.70 in the last three years of the IPL. Moreover, he has nailed the most sixes (38) inside the last five overs of the innings with Nicholas Pooran, Heinrich Klasen, and MS Dhoni being at joint-second place with 35 sixes.

Top 4 run-getters in terms of death overs strike rate since IPL 2023

The Impact Player rule may raise valid concerns about limiting the development of all-rounders in the shortest format, but it also creates space for an additional specialist to influence the game. This added flexibility allows teams to deepen their batting line-up and adopt a more aggressive approach right from the start.

Ultimately, cricket is a results-driven sport. India’s success, including back-to-back T20 World Cup triumphs, reflects the effectiveness of this fearless, attacking mindset. Therefore, IPL franchises must look to adapt, strengthen their batting units, and fully capitalise on the opportunities the rule presents.

Read More: What makes Nicholas Pooran the undisputed star of T20 Leagues?