Akshar Patel has highlighted a unique ‘tradition’ followed by the Indian cricket team during major assignments, while reiterating its stand against the impact player rule ahead of IPL 2026.The Delhi Capitals captain spoke about how players often visit temples during bilateral tours and ICC events. During the 2026 T20 World Cup, Indian players were seen visiting several temples before matches and even after winning the title, the captain Surya Kumar Yadavhead coach Gautam Gambhir And International Cricket Council Chairman Jay Shah visited the Hanuman temple to take blessings with the trophy.
Speaking at a Delhi Capitals event on Monday, Axar explained that such visits are mostly due to convenience and security during the tournament. “Visiting a temple is not a bad thing. We go to temples where we wouldn’t be able to go otherwise. We have security with us during the tournament,” he said.Along with this, Axar once again expressed his displeasure over the impact player rule, becoming the latest Indian cricketer to question its impact on the game. The rule, introduced in 2023, allows teams to substitute a player from a list of five at any stage of a match and is to remain in place until at least 2027.Axar’s approach is in line with other senior players. Rohit Sharma And Hardik Pandyaboth have expressed concerns before. Rohit pointed out in 2024 that the rule hindered the development of all-rounders, while Hardik later added that it makes team selection difficult unless a player is equally adept with both bat and ball.Explaining his approach, Axar highlighted how the rule changes team strategies and reduces the need for multi-skilled players. “I don’t like the rule, to be honest, because I’m an all-rounder. Earlier, you used to pick an all-rounder for batting and bowling.“But because of this principle, the team management thinks about a particular batsman or bowler, ‘Why do we need an all-rounder?’ As I am an all-rounder, I don’t like this rule. At the same time, rules are rules and we need to follow them. From a personal perspective though, I don’t like the rule,” he said during a preseason press conference.Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Supergiants at Ekna Cricket Stadium on April 1. Aksar had earlier flagged the issue in 2024 as well, noting that the rule affected his batting position when he was serving as vice-captain.
