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'The change isn't very drastic, as only few players use bats which do not come under new rules.'
Former India skipper Rahul Dravid says the ICC's new Code of Laws related to the thickness of bats will not have much of an impact on the game of cricket.
Under the new rule, the thickness of bats has been restricted to 108mm in width, 67mm in depth with 40mm edges, in a bid to redress the balance between bat and ball.
"Yes, it (change in bat size) will have an impact. The results of the games will show the affect, though the change isn't very drastic, as only few players use bats which do not come under new rules. It is a good decision," said Dravid.
The former right-handed batsman, however, added that various factors come into play, besides the size of the willow, which influence the overall game.
"It is also about the nature of the pitch and the size of the boundaries that matter," said Dravid at an event in Delhi, held to felicitate India’s women's team skipper Mithali Raj and former captain Jhulan Goswami.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced oodles of changes in the playing conditions, one of them being related to the edge and thickness of the cricket bat.
Batsmen like David Warner will now be forced to change his bat so as to comply with the new rules.
Asked whether he would look to coach the Indian women's team in future, the current India A and Under-19 coach opined that the women already have the best support staff.
During the event, Mithali also shared experiences of her childhood days and cricketing career.
She spoke about the advantages of having a women's IPL, saying: "Yes, it is a good idea. It will lead to having a big pool of players and will give a push to the domestic and international cricket."
She also lamented that she and her team-mates do not have any visuals of the finals of 2005 Women's World Cup, where she led India against Belinda Clark's Australia at Centurion, though in a losing cause.