The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced a significant new rule aimed at safeguarding players during multi-day cricket matches. This regulation, known as the “serious injury replacement substitute,” is designed to prevent injured players from risking further harm by continuing to play when their injuries are severe.
The rule made by BCCI will be implemented starting with the Duleep Trophy, which kicks off the 2025-26 season on August 28, and will also be applicable in the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier first-class cricket competition.
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Under this new regulation, if a player sustains an external injury—such as a deep cut or fracture—during a match, a non-playing member of the team can be substituted in as a like-for-like replacement. The replacement must be approved by the match referee, who will base their decision on a medical report highlighting the injury’s seriousness.
Notably, internal injuries like hamstring strains do not qualify under this rule. This change was motivated by recent incidents, as after Rishabh Pant played with a broken foot during India’s match against England in Manchester, which sparked debates about player safety and the need for formal injury substitutions.
This BCCI’s rule specifies that the replacement player must be from the nominated substitutes available at the time of the toss. However, if the wicketkeeper sustains a serious injury, the match referee may permit a wicketkeeper from outside the nominated substitutes, provided no qualified wicketkeeper is available in the original squad.
Both the injured player and the substitute will be recorded as having played in the match for statistical and record purposes. Currently, international cricket allows substitutions mainly in cases of concussion or Covid-19, but the BCCI’s new rule marks a step toward more flexible and protective policies.
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This move comes after high-profile instances where players like Pant and England’s Chris Woakes played through injuries, raising calls for formalized substitution rules.
While some, like India’s coach Gautam Gambhir, support the change, others, such as England’s Ben Stokes, have expressed concerns about potential misuse. The ICC is also considering trials of injury substitutes in domestic cricket, signaling a possible future shift in international cricket regulations.