BCCI Allows IPL Teams to Sign 'Replacement' Player for One Match

The IPL 2025 is ready to start in a matter of days with the first game on March 22 (Saturday) between title holders Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. As the 18th edition of the mega league is about to start, the BCCI has brought in a new rule which can prove game-changing for the franchises. Now, franchises can appoint temporary substitutes, even for a single match, but on some conditions.

Previous to this, when the franchises lost a player through injury or dropping out in mid-season, players would have to replace him and keep him within the team at least for the remainder of the season.

But now, as per a report, the BCCI has introduced a special rule wherein a franchise can recruit a temporary replacement for a limited duration of time, but the rule is applicable only for wicketkeepers.

If a franchise loses all the wicketkeepers available in the squad, then they can pick up a wicketkeeper who is unsold during the IPL 2025 auction, and his base price would be equal to the player who is out injured. This franchise can retain this wicketkeeper in the team until one of the original players gets fit and then release him. This substitute player may only be Indian, even though the players substituted for them might be foreign acquisitions.

BCCI To Constitute Replacement Pool

The report also says that the BCCI is going to form a Registered Available Player Pool from the remaining players in the auction of IPL 2025. The teams have been informed that if they require a replacement, they must pick a player from this pool alone.

They can replace a player in the team only if he gets injured or quits on personal grounds or national service before the 12th match of the team.