Examining the Indian Premier League’s Replacement Protocols: Conditions for the Introduction of an External Player | Cricbuzz.com

**Explainer: Understanding the Replacement Rules in IPL 2025**

**By Vijay Tagore**

**Last Updated On**

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a communiqué to the ten IPL teams delineating the regulations concerning player replacements for the 2025 season. One might wonder if it’s permissible for a team to temporarily include an unregistered player and subsequently release him after a brief tenure. Contrary to what their transient nature might suggest, the BCCI has indeed established scenarios under which such short-term replacements are acceptable.

The recently issued guidelines from BCCI outline the specific situations warranting partial replacements and introduce the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP), a pool from which franchises can draw eligible players. The RAPP is comprehensively defined within these regulations.

A notable exception involves wicketkeepers. According to Clause 6.1 of the regulations: “Replacement Players will not be permitted to cover partial unavailability of a player during the season unless either of the following applies:

(a) If all wicketkeepers within a franchise’s registered squad are unavailable for a match, the franchise may appeal to the BCCI for a special exemption. Under these circumstances, the BCCI is likely to grant permission to register a short-term replacement wicketkeeper from outside the squad. This replacement can only remain until any original wicketkeeper becomes available, at which point the temporary replacement can no longer participate for the franchise.

Moreover, franchises must immediately notify the BCCI once any specialist wicketkeeper regains eligibility. In instances where an unavailable wicketkeeper is an overseas player and the franchise’s overseas player quota is filled, the replacement wicketkeeper cannot be another overseas player.”

While IPL franchise managers consulted on this topic view this as a unique rule, it remains unutilized in the league’s 17-year history. However, the provision exists.

Other notable replacement provisions include:

(b) “A player suffering a season-ending injury or illness may be replaced even if he has participated in a match, provided all of the following conditions are met:
i) The injury or illness occurs before or during the team’s 12th League Match of the season.
ii) A BCCI-nominated doctor must verify that the player will not regain match fitness until post-season, including playoffs.
iii) Without the injury, the player would have been available for all subsequent matches that season.
iv) Due to the injury, the player will miss the remaining season matches.”

Note: In such scenarios, the replaced player may not partake in any further matches for the franchise that season.

**6.2** Apart from the exceptions described in paragraph 6.1, replacement players are only permissible if a player is unavailable for all season matches.

**6.3** A player’s unavailability for all matches may arise due to:
– (a) FTP commitments,
– (b) lack of NOC from a cricket board or State Association,
– (c) confirmed injury or illness,
– (d) retirement from all professional cricket,
– (e) or other BCCI-approved reasons. BCCI must confirm in writing the player’s complete unavailability.

Note: Such players may not return to the franchise for any matches that season.

**6.4** Each unavailable player can only have one replacement.

**6.5** Replacement players must be from the RAPP list and meet specific fee criteria. Players from the RAPP cannot have been selected or withdrawn from the Player Auction and have no franchise preferences unless contracted.

**6.6** The fee for a replacement should not exceed that of the unavailable player and will consider the season’s progression.

**6.7** Replacement players’ fees during the season do not impact the Salary Cap. Yet, any contract extension will factor into future Salary Cap considerations.

**6.8** Franchises must provide complete information and seek BCCI approval before signing a replacement.

**6.9** Replacements can only be signed after the season’s Player Auction.

**6.10** Franchisees must adhere to squad composition regulations per paragraphs 1.2, 1.4, and 1.5, Section A.

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