The first Impact Players of IPL 2023: Gujarat’s Sai Sudharsan sparkled, CSK’s Tushar Deshpande couldn’t impress

IPL 2023: Gujarat Titans brought in Sai Sudharsan in place of an injured Kane Williamson. Chennai Super Kings, on the other hand, subbed out specialist batsman Ambati Rayudu for pacer Tushar Deshpande

IPL 2023: Ambati Rayadu contributed 12 runs to CSK's total of 178 before Tushar Deshpande was brought on in his place as an Impact Player

IPL 2023: Tushar Deshpande became the first Impact Player in the history of the Indian Premier League after he was brought on in place of Ambati Rayudu. (Screengrab)

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IPL 2023: One of the two ‘Impact Player’ substitutions used in the first Indian Premier League match was a forced one. The rule-makers would have thought of it as a tactical innovation, that provides captains and team managements with an option in the middle of a match, or makes them think a bit harder to optimise their resources, but it came as a boon for Gujarat Titans after one of their batting mainstays, Kane Williamson suffered what seemed like a serious knee injury while trying to prevent a six on the boundary rope.

The Kiwi stalwart was clearly unable to continue, and had the Impact Player rule not been in force, his team would have had to play the rest of the match with 10 men.

As it is, Gujarat Giants brought on Sai Sudharshan in Williamson’s place and the Tamil Nadu youngster didn’t disappoint, scoring 22 off 17 balls and putting on a vital partnership with the impressive Shubman Gill.

Say hello to the 1⃣st-ever Impact Player in the history of the IPL! 👋@TusharD_96 is 🔛 the field, replacing Ambati Rayudu

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/61QLtsnj3J #TATAIPL | #GTvCSK | @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/bkY7IF8Qpa

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2023

Team coach Ashish Nehra had worked overtime on the various scenarios in which the Impact Player could be introduced, but in the first match in which it was enforced, he was left with no option to exercise his brain.

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Chennai Super Kings, on the other hand, subbed out specialist batsman Ambati Rayudu for pacer Tushar Deshpande in their bowling innings as a tactical move. It didn’t give the desired result to begin with, as the bowler, who represents Mumbai in state cricket, seemed to be lacking rhythm and bowled no-balls and wides, conceding 29 runs in his first two overs. He had the unenviable task of defending just 8 runs in the final over, and unsurprisingly gave it away in just two legal deliveries.

Read our explainer on how the Impact Player system works

At the toss, Mahendra Singh Dhoni had called the Impact Player a luxury for teams. Rayudu is a single-skill cricketer and at 37 years of age, not one of the more agile fielders in the side. He wouldn’t have contributed much in the second half of the game and was thus expendable. In a similar scenario in the coming games, CSK may bring on another seamer or even a spinner, if the conditions warrant so.

As far as Titans are concerned, David Miller should join the squad ahead of their next game and could take up Williamson’s place, as the New Zealander looks to be out for at least a few games. One will only know in subsequent matches how the defending champions plan to use the new rule, and what has Nehra come up with while burning the midnight oil.

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