<p>The emphasis on specialists due to the impact player rule has led to less bowling time for all-rounders, feels <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/kolkata-knight-riders" target="_blank">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> opener Venkatesh Iyer.</p>.<p>Back in form with a bang after an ankle surgery, Iyer smashed 83 against <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/rajasthan-royals-defeat-gujarat-titans-by-three-wickets-1210338.html" target="_blank">Gujarat Titans</a> and 104 versus Mumbai Indians in two of KKR's five games, having come on as impact substitute in all matches.</p>.<p>"Honestly, with the coming of impact players, the number of overs an all-rounder is bowling has dropped down drastically," Iyer said ahead of the match against <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/delhi-capitals" target="_blank">Delhi Capitals</a>.</p>.<p>He hasn't bowled in any of the games.</p>.<p>"Obviously, if a team has a specialist bowler as their sixth bowler and they don't want to try their all-rounder.... this is what impact player rule has brought. It has lessened the utility of all-rounders," said Iyer, who played T20Is and ODIs for India as a middle-order batter last year.</p>.<p>But Iyer understands that the rule is here to stay and teams are making plans keeping impact player in mind.</p>.<p>"It's a very interesting rule that has come in place. If you are playing in the IPL, it's a international level tournament, the think tank is so big in the every team that I guess they might have figured it out in the very first match itself.</p>.<p>"By now everyone knows how to use the impact player. If you see the results the impact players are turning out to be an X factor."</p>.<p>While he hasn't rolled his arms over in any of the games, he has got the all clear from the NCA to bowl.</p>.<p>"I am 100 per cent ready to bowl. I was given clearance by the NCA. The most pleasing thing is not the runs I am scoring, the thing that I am back on the field and play in such a big tournament."</p>.<p>He was circumspect after the ankle injury but is now back at his best as he became the second IPL centurion for KKR after Brendon McCullum.</p>.<p>"Scoring and all is secondary, I am truly grateful to the almighty that I am just able to play."</p>
<p>The emphasis on specialists due to the impact player rule has led to less bowling time for all-rounders, feels <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/kolkata-knight-riders" target="_blank">Kolkata Knight Riders</a> opener Venkatesh Iyer.</p>.<p>Back in form with a bang after an ankle surgery, Iyer smashed 83 against <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/cricket/ipl/rajasthan-royals-defeat-gujarat-titans-by-three-wickets-1210338.html" target="_blank">Gujarat Titans</a> and 104 versus Mumbai Indians in two of KKR's five games, having come on as impact substitute in all matches.</p>.<p>"Honestly, with the coming of impact players, the number of overs an all-rounder is bowling has dropped down drastically," Iyer said ahead of the match against <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/delhi-capitals" target="_blank">Delhi Capitals</a>.</p>.<p>He hasn't bowled in any of the games.</p>.<p>"Obviously, if a team has a specialist bowler as their sixth bowler and they don't want to try their all-rounder.... this is what impact player rule has brought. It has lessened the utility of all-rounders," said Iyer, who played T20Is and ODIs for India as a middle-order batter last year.</p>.<p>But Iyer understands that the rule is here to stay and teams are making plans keeping impact player in mind.</p>.<p>"It's a very interesting rule that has come in place. If you are playing in the IPL, it's a international level tournament, the think tank is so big in the every team that I guess they might have figured it out in the very first match itself.</p>.<p>"By now everyone knows how to use the impact player. If you see the results the impact players are turning out to be an X factor."</p>.<p>While he hasn't rolled his arms over in any of the games, he has got the all clear from the NCA to bowl.</p>.<p>"I am 100 per cent ready to bowl. I was given clearance by the NCA. The most pleasing thing is not the runs I am scoring, the thing that I am back on the field and play in such a big tournament."</p>.<p>He was circumspect after the ankle injury but is now back at his best as he became the second IPL centurion for KKR after Brendon McCullum.</p>.<p>"Scoring and all is secondary, I am truly grateful to the almighty that I am just able to play."</p>