BCCI Introduces 'Serious Injury Replacement' Rule for Domestic Cricket
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will introduce a 'Serious Injury Replacement' rule for multi-day domestic tournaments starting in the 2025-26 season. The new clause allows a 'like-for-like' player to substitute for a teammate who sustains a serious on-field injury, such as a fracture or dislocation, that prevents further participation. The match referee will have the final authority to approve the replacement, marking a significant step towards enhancing player welfare in Indian domestic cricket.
Unpacked:
The rule was prompted by high-profile injuries in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, notably to wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who suffered a foot injury after being struck by a ball and was unable to continue, sparking debates about player safety and fair replacements in domestic cricket.
The replacement must be a like-for-like player from those nominated at the toss, and the match referee assesses whether the substitute closely matches the injured player’s role, ensuring the change does not excessively benefit the team. The replacement is only approved if this criterion is met.
No, the 'Serious Injury Replacement' rule applies only to multi-day (red-ball) domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy. It does not cover white-ball (limited-overs) formats such as One Day or T20 matches.
Like the concussion substitute rule, this new regulation allows a like-for-like replacement for serious injuries. However, it specifically covers external injuries such as fractures or dislocations, not just head injuries, and follows similar procedural checks for fairness and team balance.