Sachin Tendulkar Submits Petition To BCCI To Change IPL Forever

Sachin Tendulkar proposes multiple changes in IPL rule for better cricket [Source: AFP]

T20 cricket, especially in India, has largely become a batting-dominated phenomenon. As the IPL 2026 final is set to take place on May 31, ahead of the all-important match, Sachin Tendulkar, former India cricketer and a legend of the game, has suggested a few tweaks to the rules to improve the overall quality of cricket.

Tendulkar, who was a star player for the Mumbai Indians during his IPL days, remains a mentor and icon for the five-time champions. 

He is often seen on the ground advising and guiding younger players to help them improve their game. Now, with some revolutionary ideas, Sachin Tendulkar has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to introduce changes that could alter the IPL's future.

The Batting Dominated IPL And The Call For Change

Over the last two to three years, the IPL has earned a reputation for being heavily tilted in favour of batters. In the IPL 2026 season especially, 200-plus totals have become the norm.

Matches in which teams batting first posted totals of 160 or 170 have rarely been won, as chasing sides have comfortably overhauled those targets well before the final overs. 

This has been made possible in part by the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to effectively field an extra batter and an extra bowler in addition to the playing XI.

Also Read- Fact Check: Did Sachin Tendulkar Push Sanju Samson's Case For India's T20I Captaincy?

Tendulkar Suggests Scrapping The Impact Player Rule

Scrapping the Impact Player rule was one of Sachin Tendulkar's first suggestions. Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards for the greatest international cricketers of the 21st century, Tendulkar opined that the Impact Player rule should be removed.

" The impact player needs to go away. Uh, that is my personal opinion. I feel when in a T20 format, you just have to play 20 overs, and then you're adding one more batter to that lineup where bowlers are already being challenged. I find that imbalance," Tendulkar shared.

Sachin Tendulkar In Favour Of Bowlers

Tendulkar's second proposal was also aimed at helping bowlers. Sachin Tendulkar suggested that the six-over powerplay currently available to the batting side should be split within the 20 overs.

The first four overs would remain a mandatory batting powerplay, while the fielding captain would be allowed to use the remaining two overs at any point during the innings as a bowling powerplay.

During this bowling powerplay, three fielders would be permitted outside the 30-yard circle instead of the usual two.

"The second one may be a suggestion that, uh, the power play of six overs with field restrictions, only two fielders allowed outside the ring. Let the first four overs be batter's power play with same field restrictions, and post that, the remaining two power play overs should be determined by the fielding captain as and when he wants to take.

But those two consecutive overs will also get one fielder extra outside the ring at any stage of the game. So, you know, you are able to control the game better. That's my personal feeling," Sachin Tendulkar suggested.

Five Overs For Bowlers In IPL!

Adding another revolutionary suggestion, Tendulkar proposed that one bowler should be allowed to bowl a maximum of five overs instead of four.

He argued that if top-order batters can sometimes occupy the crease for almost the entire 20 overs, then the best bowler should also have the opportunity to make a greater impact by bowling an additional over.

“And one bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. Five overs? Yes. Yeah. Because you would invariably, the best bowler of the side is gonna bowl that fifth over.

Wouldn't you wanna see that best bowler bowl more? Of course. Like, like, you know, the top batters are batting sometimes even 20 overs. Why shouldn't the best bowler be bowling five overs?" the 53-year-old asked.

BCCI Might Look Away From Tendulkar's Demands

Whether these changes will be adopted by the BCCI remains to be seen. There have already been discussions about potentially scrapping the Impact Player rule from the IPL 2028 season onward.

While Sachin Tendulkar's vision seeks to restore a better balance between bat and ball, the BCCI appears more inclined toward maximising entertainment and spectacle rather than preserving the competitive contest between bat and ball which is central to the game's appeal.

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