The 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on March 22, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) facing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens. Even before the tournament starts, several franchises have made changes to their squads due to injuries. For instance, Chetan Sakaria has replaced Umran Malik in KKR, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has brought in Wiaan Mulder for Brydon Carse. Similarly, Mumbai Indians have added Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Corbin Bosch in place of Allah Ghazanfar and Lizad Williams. While the IPL has an ‘Impact Player’ rule, it also has clear regulations for player replacements.
Controversy Over Corbin Bosch and the Pakistan Super League (PSL)
A dispute has emerged regarding Corbin Bosch's inclusion in the IPL. Bosch had already signed with Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) before joining Mumbai Indians. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) may take legal action against him for breaching his PSL contract.
IPL 2025 Player Replacement Rules
Ahead of the new season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revised the rules for player replacements, allowing franchises more flexibility in managing their squads.
Key Changes to the Replacement Rules
- The deadline for replacing an injured player has been extended to the 12th league match of the season, up from the previous 7th match limit.
- This change ensures that teams have a longer window to find suitable replacements.
Main Replacement Rule: Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP)
- Teams can select replacements only from the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP)—a list of players who registered for the auction but remained unsold.
- The replacement player’s contract value cannot exceed the amount paid for the original player at the auction.
- Players from the RAPP can also be signed as net bowlers, but once contracted, other teams cannot approach them.
Mid-Season Player Replacements: When and How?
As per BCCI rules, a mid-season replacement is only allowed under specific conditions:
- Injury or Illness Requirement: The player must have sustained an injury or illness before or during the 12th league match.
- Medical Confirmation: A BCCI-appointed doctor must certify that the injury/illness will prevent the player from playing for the rest of the season, including playoffs.
- Full-Season Unavailability: The affected player would have otherwise been available for all remaining matches.
- Finality of Replacement: Once replaced, the original player cannot return for the rest of the season.
To initiate a replacement, the franchise must submit all relevant documents to the BCCI and wait for official approval. Importantly, no replacements can be made before the IPL auction is completed.
Can a Player Be Signed for a Single Match and Released?
- While this practice is generally not allowed, BCCI permits temporary replacements under certain conditions, particularly for wicketkeepers.
- If a franchise has no available wicketkeeper in its registered squad, it can request special approval from the BCCI.
- In such cases, a temporary wicketkeeper may be brought in only until one of the team’s registered wicketkeepers becomes available.
- If the unavailable wicketkeeper is a foreign player and the team has already reached the limit of 8 overseas players, the replacement must be an Indian player.
These rules ensure that teams can manage injuries effectively while maintaining squad balance within the IPL framework.
