BCCI Introduces 'Serious Injury Replacement' Rule

Weeks after India keeper-batter Rishabh Pant's injury during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, which had sparked debates about injury replacements, the BCCI has brought in a major rule change for the upcoming season of domestic cricket.

- GOMESH S @ Chennai

According to the BCCI's playing conditions prepared for the 2025-26 season which begins later this month, a "serious injury replacement" clause has been introduced where a player, who suffers an external injury, can be substituted with a like-for-like replacement. This change, which was briefed in a seminar to the umpires ahead of the season in Ahmedabad, is applicable only for multi-day red-ball tournaments and not white-ball cricket. Earlier in June, the ICC had said that replacement of players (domestic first-class cricket) for injuries will be trialled by full-member nations.