The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has updated the player replacement rules for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season to provide teams with greater flexibility in managing their squads. Here’s how the revamped rules work:
Eligibility for Replacement:
- Teams can seek a replacement if a player suffers a season-ending injury or illness, either before or during the tournament.
- Replacement Window:
The replacement window has been extended. Previously, teams could replace players up to their 7th league match; now, replacements are allowed up to the 12th league match.
Criteria for Replacement Players:
- The replacement player must be listed in the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) for the current season.
- The fee for the replacement player cannot exceed that of the original player being replaced.
- If signed mid-season, the replacement player’s salary will be adjusted based on the number of remaining matches.
Salary Cap Implications:
- The replacement player’s fee does not count against the franchise’s salary cap for the current season. However, if the player is retained for the next season, his full salary will then be considered under the cap.
Squad Composition:
- Teams must ensure their squad size does not exceed 25 players, even after making replacements.
- Mid-Season Replacement Conditions:
A mid-season replacement is permitted only if:
- The player is injured before or during the team’s 12th league match.
- A BCCI-appointed doctor confirms that the injury is season-ending.
- The player would have been fully available for the rest of the season if not for the injury.
- The injury forces the player to miss all remaining matches.
- Once a player is replaced, he cannot rejoin the squad for the remainder of the season.
Recent Examples:
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) replaced the injured Umran Malik with Chetan Sakariya.
- Mumbai Indians (MI) signed Mujeeb Ur Rahman as a replacement for Allah Ghazanfar.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) brought in Wiaan Mulder in place of Brydon Carse.
- These updated rules aim to provide teams with more flexibility in managing unforeseen player unavailability, ensuring a competitive balance throughout the IPL season
