The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently stated that players with significant injuries can be replaced after Rishabh Pant was hurt during the fourth Test of the most recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.
For the 2025–2026 season and beyond, the regulation will only be applicable to multi-day Indian domestic cricket competitions hosted by the BCCI or its affiliates.
Under the Serious Injury portion of its Playing Conditions, the BCCI has included a new condition that states that if a player sustains an extreme injury during a game that prevents him from participating in it any longer, a replacement may be permitted.
“In the following situations, a player may be eligible for a Serious Injury Replacement if they suffer a serious injury during the relevant match. According to Cricbuzz, the most recent law states that the significant injury must have occurred during play and within the playing area specified in the clause.
The regulation will take effect as early as the 2025 Duleep Trophy, which kicks off the forthcoming domestic season. Although it is anticipated that the teams will embrace the rule with joy, the board must be cautious of potential loophole exploitations that could result in undue advantage. However, the Indian cricketing organisation has not yet issued an official confirmation of the aforementioned rule.
It is crucial to have this rule: Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of India, has advocated for the replacement of players who suffered major injuries during a match after the Manchester Test. According to him, an injured replacement can always be permitted for that specific player if the officials are able to determine the severity of the injury and they agree.
“I’m totally in favour of it. I believe it’s crucial if the match referee and umpires notice and believe that to be a serious injury. Having a rule that allows for substitutions is crucial, provided that it is clearly visible. That is perfectly acceptable, particularly in a series like this one where the last three Test matches have been so fiercely contested. What if we had been forced to play 10 men against 11? “How bad this would be for us,” he had said.
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