Kolkata Knight Riders were the first team to utilize the Impact Player rule in the IPL 2025 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. After setting a target of 174, KKR replaced young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi with pacer Vaibhav Arora to strengthen their bowling attack. Arora, known for his ability to swing the ball, was handed the new ball and tasked with providing an early breakthrough against RCB’s dangerous opening duo of Phil Salt and Virat Kohli.
RCB introduce Devdutt Padikkal for Suyash Sharma
In response, RCB made their own tactical substitution, bringing in left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal in place of leg-spinner Suyash Sharma. With a chase of 174 on a surface that assisted stroke-making, RCB opted for extra batting depth by including Padikkal, who has been a consistent performer in the IPL. His presence provided RCB with a dependable middle-order option in case of early wickets.
The impact of substitutions
KKR’s decision to bring in Arora reflected their focus on early breakthroughs, especially with RCB boasting a formidable top order. Meanwhile, RCB’s choice to swap a bowler for a batter suggested their intent to solidify the chase with an extra specialist batter.
With both teams making strategic use of the Impact Player rule, the season opener highlighted how franchises are adapting to this tactical innovation in IPL 2025. Whether these moves prove decisive in the final outcome remains to be seen.
