In a major development, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has amended the playing conditions and allowed injury replacements in multi-day tournaments for the upcoming domestic season.
The decision comes in the wake of Rishabh Pant’s injury, when the wicketkeeper-batter had to walk out to bat despite a fractured foot during the fourth Test against England in Manchester last month.
While such a rule is still not implemented by the International Cricket Council, the BCCI introduced the rule in Playing Conditions for the 2025-26 season in the multi-day cricket under a new category – ‘Serious Injury Replacement’ stating that a like-for-like replacement, somewhat similar to concussion replacement rules, will be allowed.
While briefing the umpires and the match officials recently, the BCCI made it clear that such replacements will not be allowed in white ball cricket – Syed Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare Trophy, and will only be restricted to the multi-day events for now. The rule will also be applicable in the multi-day Under 19 tournament for the CK Nayudu Trophy.
According to the revised playing conditions: “If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted in the following circumstances… The serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in clause.”
During the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, there was a demand for a player replacement in case of serious injuries. After Pant, England’s Chris Woakes had to come out to bat in the Oval Test despite a dislocated shoulder.
While England captain Ben Stokes had rubbished such a replacement rule, India head coach Gautam Gambhir backed the rule.
Serious Injury Replacement – Full rule
- 1.2.8.1 If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted in the following circumstances:
- 1.2.8.1.1 the serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in clause 1.2.5.2 above. The injury must have occurred due to an external blow and result in fracture / deep cut / dislocation etc. The injury should render player unavailable for remainder of the match.
- 1.2.8.1.2 On-field umpires shall be final authority do decide on extend of serious injury and allowance of Serious Injury Replacement. They may consult BCCI Match Referee and / or doctor available on ground.
- 1.2.8.1.3 the Team Manager shall submit a Serious Injury Replacement Request to the BCCI Match Referee on a standard form, which shall:
- 1.2.8.1.3.1 identify the player who has sustained the serious injury.
- 1.2.8.1.3.2 specify the incident in which the serious injury was sustained, including the time at which it occurred.
- 1.2.8.1.3.3 confirm that, the player has sustained a serious injury and will not be able to participate further in the match due to the injury; and
- 1.2.8.1.3.4 identify the requested Serious Injury Replacement, who shall be like-for-like replacement for the player who has sustained the serious injury.
- 1.2.8.1.3.5 In all circumstances serious injury replacement player shall be from nominated substitutes at the time of toss (For Col C K Nayudu Trophy from the time of nomination of players). Only in the case where wicket-keeper is seriously injured and needs a replacement then Match Referee may allow a wicket-keeper from player outside the nominated substitutes if there is no wicket-keeper in the nominated substitutes.
- 1.2.8.2 The Serious Injury Replacement Request must be submitted to the BCCI Match Referee as soon as possible after the incident specified in clause 1.2.8.1.3.2 if a Serious Injury Replacement is to be permitted.
- 1.2.8.3 The BCCI Match Referee should ordinarily approve a Serious Injury Replacement Request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his team for the remainder of the match.
- 1.2.8.4 In assessing whether the nominated Serious Injury Replacement should be considered a like-for-like player, the BCCI Match Referee should consider the likely role that the seriously injured player would have played during the remainder of the match, and the normal role that would be performed by the nominated Serious Injury Replacement.
- 1.2.8.5 If the BCCI Match Referee believes that the inclusion of the nominated Serious Injury Replacement, when performing their normal role, would excessively advantage their team, the BCCI Match Referee may impose such conditions upon the identity and involvement of the Serious Injury Replacement as he/she sees fit, in line with the overriding objective of facilitating a like-for-like replacement for the seriously injured player. For clarity, a Serious Injury replacement will inherit all warnings, penalty time and suspensions that were imposed on the replaced player.
- 1.2.8.6 The BCCI Match Referee may, in reviewing a Serious Injury Replacement Request made in accordance with clause 1.2.8.1.3 request any such further information as may be required in order to make the determination required under clauses 1.2.8.4 and 1.2.8.5.
- 1.2.8.7 The decision of the BCCI Match Referee in relation to any Serious Injury Replacement Request shall be final and neither team shall have any right of appeal.
- 1.2.8.8 Once the Serious Injury Replacement has been approved by the BCCI Match Referee, the replaced player shall take no further part in the match.
- 1.2.8.9 Both the Serious Injury Replacement and the replaced player shall be considered to have played in the match for records and statistical purposes.