The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced revamped player replacement rules for IPL 2025. This aimed at providing teams with more flexibility in managing their rosters.
These changes come into effect as the tournament is set to kick off on March 22, 2025, and they are designed to address the challenges teams face when players suffer season-ending injuries or illnesses.
Overview of the Revamped Player Replacement Rules
Key Changes in IPL 2025
- Extended Replacement Window: The BCCI has extended the player replacement window until the 12th league match of each team, up from the previous limit of just seven matches. This allows teams more time to replace unavailable players.
- Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP): Teams can only sign replacements from the RAPP, which includes players who registered for the auction but were not picked. This pool ensures that teams have access to a pool of players who are available and ready to step in.
- Signing Conditions: Replacement players can be signed for the entire season, and their fees cannot exceed that of the player they are replacing during the auction. This helps maintain financial fairness across franchises.
- Eligibility Criteria: A player can be replaced if they suffer a season-ending injury or illness confirmed by a BCCI-nominated doctor. The replacement must occur before or during the team’s 12th league match, and it must be established that the injured player would have been available for all remaining matches had they not been injured.
Implications of the New Rules
- Salary Cap Considerations: The fee for a replacement player does not count against a franchise’s salary cap for that season. However, if a team retains a replacement player for subsequent seasons, their salary will then be included in the salary cap calculations.
- Contractual Adjustments: If a replacement is brought in mid-season for a player who has already played, their contract will be adjusted based on how many matches remain in the season.
Recent Replacements
As IPL 2025 approaches, several teams have already made notable replacements:
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Chetan Sakariya has been signed to replace Umran Malik.
- Mumbai Indians: Mujeeb Ur Rahman has taken over from Allah Ghazanfar, while Corbin Bosch replaces Lizaad Williams.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Wiaan Mulder has been brought in for Brydon Carse.
These moves highlight how teams are proactively managing their squads ahead of the season.
