The Impact Player rule that received huge criticism from players and coaches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to continue for the upcoming IPL 2027 season, a source told Hindustan Times.

Although the clubs have not received any formal correspondence, HT has learned that their current trade talks and planning for the player auction scheduled for next month are predicated on the knowledge that the Impact Player rule will remain in place for IPL 2027.

"The next edition will be the last before a mega auction cycle, and a rule change now would be too late for the teams. It's unlikely there would be any change," an IPL official told Hindustan Times.

In August, the IPL sought the views of franchises on the Impact Player.

"At least four teams had informed the IPL that withdrawal of the rule this late would hamper their strategy significantly,” an IPL team official said.

For instance, Sunrisers Hyderabad have built their team around an attacking approach that relies on batting depth as a buffer. Without an impact player, they would have to improve their bowling to remain competitive with many teams drastically. In small auctions, squad structure repairs are particularly challenging.

A hamstring ailment kept Rohit Sharma out of five games last year. According to the Impact Player rule, he could only come back as a hitter. MS Dhoni's injury prevented him from playing for the Chennai Super Kings, although interest in his potential comeback as an Impact Player persisted throughout the 2026 campaign. Without the rule, less-than-fit stars could play.

While the Impact Player rule hasn't added much in terms of tactical intrigue, it has seen scoring rates soar, with the batters getting an extra license to attack. The playing community has frequently complained about bowlers having less power and all-rounders' progress being hampered as a result of the rule.