'They are not a luxury but...' - Jos Buttler weighs in on how 'Impact Player' rule has no bearing on all-rounders' value

England's white-ball skipper Jos Buttler opined on the Impact Sub-rule, which the BCCI incorporated in the 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. While talking to the Times of India (TOI), Buttler sided with the all-rounders and put forward simple points showing how important all-rounders are for the teams.

Having a player who can bat and bowl is actually beneficial for the team. Players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma showed their dissatisfaction with the Impact Sub-rule during the IPL 2024, after which the Board said that they would make a decision on the same. However, they haven't made any official statements on the policy changes. 

"All-rounders traditionally have been crucial for cricket teams, to lengthen the batting lineup, provide balance and different bowling options. All-rounders are not a luxury but a necessity. Having multi-skilled players is a huge benefit," said Jos Buttler as quoted by TOI.

To provide a perfect balance to the side, all-rounders are extremely important, who can bat when a team have a shaky start or to break some crucial partnerships. IPL 2024 did lessen the usage of all-rounders in the tournament, but there were several players who came in favor of the rule. 

Making those calls on the field is still crucial: Jos Buttler

Talking about Buttler, he has done a wonderful job in grooming the team. Moreover, he's one of the best batters as well. Buttler's answer was mesmerizing when asked about the role of skippers decreasing in the T20 format due to a lot of support being provided by other people. 

He made an excellent point stating that making on-field calls isn't that easy, and hence, a captain's role cannot be replaced by anyone, no matter how much help they get from the backend team. England are currently preparing for the 5-match ODI series against Australia, where Harry Brook will be leading the team. Buttler is set to miss the series due to an injury in the right calf.

"I don't see that at all. There's more data but making those calls on the field is still crucial. It's such a short game, every ball is important, saving one run or two runs here and there can go a long way to winning a game," added Buttler.