The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a landmark change in the playing conditions for the upcoming 2025–26 domestic cricket season, introducing a new Serious Injury Replacement Rule. This move comes in the aftermath of the India–England Test series, where Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes had to continue batting despite serious injuries due to the absence of any substitution provision other than concussion replacements under ICC rules.
Why the Rule Was Needed
The issue of player safety gained widespread attention during the recent Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, which ended in a 2–2 draw. Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes, both carrying significant injuries, were forced to take the field because existing rules did not allow a like-for-like substitution. Currently, the ICC only permits concussion substitutes, leaving teams handicapped in situations involving other serious injuries.
BCCI’s proactive decision aims to protect players’ health while ensuring that the spirit of fair competition is maintained in domestic cricket.
How the New Replacement Rule Works
The new Serious Injury Replacement Rule will work much like the concussion substitution system already in place:
- Teams can replace a seriously injured player with a like-for-like substitute.
- Approval must come from on-field umpires and the match referee, who may also consult a medical professional before confirming the replacement.
- Once replaced, the injured player will not be allowed to take further part in the match.
- Importantly, both the injured player and the substitute will be counted as participants in the official records and statistics.
This ensures fairness in competition while also safeguarding players from being forced to play through injuries.
Where the Rule Will Apply
The BCCI clarified that the new rule will be introduced only in multi-day domestic tournaments, such as:
- CK Nayudu Trophy
- Other red-ball competitions under the BCCI umbrella
It will not apply to white-ball tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) or the Vijay Hazare Trophy (List A). The BCCI has also kept the door open for reviewing the rule’s effectiveness before considering its extension to the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the future.
Other Key Playing Condition Updates
Alongside the introduction of the replacement rule, the BCCI has updated two other important conditions:
- Deliberate Short Runs – Stricter monitoring will be enforced to prevent batters from manipulating runs unfairly.
- Retiring Batters – Any player retiring without a valid reason will now be marked as “Retired – out”. Unlike the previous system, such players will not be permitted to resume their innings even if the opposition captain agrees.
These changes reflect BCCI’s determination to modernize domestic cricket while aligning it with international best practices.
The BCCI’s Serious Injury Replacement Rule marks a progressive step towards prioritizing player welfare in Indian domestic cricket. By addressing a long-standing gap in playing conditions, the board has ensured that incidents like Rishabh Pant’s enforced participation despite injury will no longer be repeated at the domestic level.
Whether this rule will eventually make its way into the IPL or even international cricket remains to be seen, but for now, it is a welcome development for players, fans, and the game itself.