The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a new rule for the 2025-26 domestic season that will allow teams to bring in a replacement if a player suffers a serious injury during a multi-day match. The change has been added under a new heading in the Playing Conditions called "Serious Injury Replacement."
The rule will apply only to red-ball tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy. It will not be used in white-ball events like the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. As per the new conditions, the replacement must be like-for-like and will also carry forward any penalties, warnings or suspensions that were on the injured player. The injury has to occur within the playing area and during the course of the match for the replacement to be allowed.
"If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted in the following circumstances. The serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in clause," the rule in the Playing Conditions read.
Why is the Serious Injury Replacement Rule Being Introduced?
The move was made to prevent teams from being left short when a player is injured during play.
Rishabh Pant fractured his toe during the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Old Trafford. He left the field for treatment and returned to bat the next day, but could not keep wickets for the rest of the match. He also missed the series decider at The Oval.
There were more injury concerns in the same series. England all-rounder Chris Woakes had to bat despite suffering a dislocated shoulder. These incidents highlighted the need for a proper replacement rule.
Opinions on the change have been split. England captain Ben Stokes dismissed the idea when asked about it earlier, while India head coach Gautam Gambhir had supported it.
For now, the BCCI has chosen to trial the rule in domestic cricket. Its impact during the coming season will decide whether the board pushes for it in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Full Serious Injury Replacement Rule
1.2.8.1 If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted in the following circumstances:
1.2.8.1.1 the serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in clause
1.2.5.2 above. The injury must have occurred due to an external blow and result in fracture / deep cut / dislocation etc. The injury should render player unavailable for remainder of the match.
1.2.8.1.2 Onfield umpires shall be final authority do decide on extend of serious injury and allowability of Serious Injury Replacement. They may consult BCCI Match Referee and / or doctor available on ground.
1.2.8.1.3 the Team Manager shall submit a Serious Injury Replacement Request to the BCCI Match Referee on a standard form, which shall:
1.2.8.1.3.1 identify the player who has sustained the serious injury.
1.2.8.1.3.2 specify the incident in which the serious injury was sustained, including the time at which it occurred.
1.2.8.1.3.3 confirm that, the player has sustained a serious injury and will not be able to participate further in the match due to the injury; and
1.2.8.1.3.4 identify the requested Serious Injury Replacement, who shall be like-for-like replacement for the player who has sustained the serious injury.
1.2.8.1.3.5 In all circumstances serious injury replacement player shall be from nominated substitutes at the time of toss (For Col C K Nayudu Trophy from the time of nomination of players). Only in the case where wicket-keeper is seriously injured and needs a replacement then Match Referee may allow a wicket-keeper from player outside the nominated substitutes if there is no wicket-keeper in the nominated substitutes.
1.2.8.2 The Serious Injury Replacement Request must be submitted to the BCCI Match Referee as soon as possible after the incident specified in clause 1.2.8.1.3.2 if a Serious Injury Replacement is to be permitted.
1.2.8.3 The BCCI Match Referee should ordinarily approve a Serious Injury Replacement Request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his team for the remainder of the match.
1.2.8.4 In assessing whether the nominated Serious Injury Replacement should be considered a like-for-like player, the BCCI Match Referee should consider the likely role that the seriously injured player would have played during the remainder of the match, and the normal role that would be performed by the nominated Serious Injury Replacement.
1.2.8.5 If the BCCI Match Referee believes that the inclusion of the nominated Serious Injury Replacement, when performing their normal role, would excessively advantage their team, the BCCI Match Referee may impose such conditions upon the identity and involvement of the Serious Injury Replacement as he/she sees fit, in line with the overriding objective of facilitating a like-for-like replacement for the seriously injured player.
For clarity, a Serious Injury replacement will inherit all warnings, penalty time and suspensions that were imposed on the replaced player.
1.2.8.6 The BCCI Match Referee may, in reviewing a Serious Injury Replacement Request made in accordance with clause
1.2.8.1.3 request any such further information as may be required in order to make the determination required under clauses 1.2.8.4 and 1.2.8.5.
1.2.8.7 The decision of the BCCI Match Referee in relation to any Serious Injury Replacement Request shall be final and neither team shall have any right of appeal.
1.2.8.8 Once the Serious Injury Replacement has been approved by the BCCI Match Referee, the replaced player shall take no further part in the match.
1.2.8.9 Both the Serious Injury Replacement and the replaced player shall be considered to have played in the match for records and statistical purposes.
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