Is BCCI Introducing a ‘Serious Injury Replacement’ Rule for the 2025/26 Domestic Season?

New Delhi, Aug 16 (NationPress) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a ‘Serious Injury Replacement’ provision in the regulations governing multi-day matches for the upcoming 2025/26 domestic season. This new rule will permit like-for-like substitutions for players who are unable to participate in a match due to a serious injury.

The decision follows recent events during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, where India's wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant suffered a fractured right foot while batting in the fourth Test at Manchester.

In a similar situation, Chris Woakes, the English seam-bowling all-rounder, batted with his left arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder on the opening day at The Oval. According to a report from Cricbuzz, the match referee will have the final say on the application of this replacement rule, based on consultations with a medical professional regarding the seriousness of the injury sustained during play.

"If a player incurs a serious injury during the match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted under specific conditions. The injury must occur during play within the designated playing area," states the report, which highlights the newly-added rule under the section titled ‘Serious Injury Replacement’ in the Playing Conditions.

Furthermore, the updated playing conditions have been conveyed to the umpires at the ongoing seminar in Ahmedabad. The BCCI has clarified that no replacements will be allowed in white-ball competitions, such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare tournaments. It remains uncertain whether this rule will be applicable in the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but it will be implemented in the multi-day Under-19 CK Nayudu Trophy tournament.

Detailed Guidelines for Serious Injury Replacement:

1.2.8.1 If a player suffers a serious injury during the match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be allowed in the following instances:

1.2.8.1.1 The serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the area described in clause 1.2.5.2. The injury must arise from an external impact resulting in a fracture, deep cut, dislocation, etc., rendering the player unable to continue.

1.2.8.1.2 The on-field umpires will determine the extent of the serious injury and the eligibility for a Serious Injury Replacement. They may consult the BCCI Match Referee and/or the on-site doctor.

1.2.8.1.3 The Team Manager is required to submit a Serious Injury Replacement Request to the BCCI Match Referee using a standard form, which must include:

1.2.8.1.3.1 Identification of the player with the serious injury.

1.2.8.1.3.2 A description of the incident causing the serious injury, including the exact time it occurred.

1.2.8.1.3.3 Confirmation that the player cannot continue due to the serious injury.

1.2.8.1.3.4 Identification of the proposed Serious Injury Replacement, who must be a like-for-like substitute for the injured player.

1.2.8.1.3.5 In all cases, the replacement player must be from the nominated substitutes present at the toss (for the CK Nayudu Trophy, this applies from the time players are nominated). If the wicket-keeper is seriously injured and a replacement is necessary, the Match Referee may allow a wicket-keeper from outside the nominated substitutes if no wicket-keeper is available among them.

1.2.8.2 The Serious Injury Replacement Request must be submitted to the BCCI Match Referee promptly following the incident specified in clause 1.2.8.1.3.2, should a replacement be required.

1.2.8.3 The BCCI Match Referee is expected to approve a Serious Injury Replacement Request if the substitute is a like-for-like player whose inclusion does not provide an undue advantage to the team for the rest of the match.

1.2.8.4 In determining if a nominated Serious Injury Replacement qualifies as a like-for-like player, the BCCI Match Referee will consider the role the seriously injured player would have performed for the remainder of the match versus the typical role that the nominated replacement would fulfill.

1.2.8.5 If the BCCI Match Referee believes that including the nominated replacement would provide an excessive advantage to their team, they may impose conditions on the identity and role of the Serious Injury Replacement as deemed appropriate, to ensure compliance with the objective of facilitating a like-for-like substitution.

For clarity, a Serious Injury Replacement will inherit all warnings, penalty time, and suspensions previously imposed on the replaced player.

1.2.8.6 The BCCI Match Referee may, when reviewing a Serious Injury Replacement Request, ask for additional information to make the necessary determinations as outlined in clauses 1.2.8.4 and 1.2.8.5.

1.2.8.7 The decision made by the BCCI Match Referee regarding any Serious Injury Replacement Request is final; neither team has the right to appeal.

1.2.8.8 Once a Serious Injury Replacement is approved by the BCCI Match Referee, the player who has been replaced may not take any further part in the match.

1.2.8.9 Both the Serious Injury Replacement and the replaced player will be recorded as having played in the match for statistical and record-keeping purposes.