As the first "Impact Player" in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, Delhi all-rounder Hrithik Shokeen helped his team defeat Manipur by a score of 71 runs on Tuesday in a group B match in Jaipur.
Hiten Dalal scored a 27-ball 47 while opening the batting for Delhi, helping the team reach 167/7 in 20 overs. After that, Delhi switched Hiten for Mumbai Indians off-spinner Shokeen during their bowling innings. Shokeen took two wickets in three overs while allowing only 13 runs, which helped Delhi restrict Manipur to 96 for seven in their 20 overs.
Shokeen made his IPL debut earlier this year with the Mumbai Indians, and in the few opportunities he received, he wowed everyone.
Notably, as a test for the IPL, the BCCI has instituted the "Impact Player" rule in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. It enables a side to make a strategic change in the middle of the match.
The playing teams are required to identify four potential impact players, but only one of them may be deployed, per the rules. The player can bowl his full allotted number of overs and bat anywhere after the substitution, which must be made before the 14th over of either innings.
Although employing the impact player is not required, the manager, head coach, or captain must first notify the on-field umpire.
When the game is reduced to less than 10 over per side, the regulation is not apply.