BCCI Implements Serious Injury Replacement Rule in Domestic Cricket

New Rule for Player Safety in Domestic Cricket

In a pivotal move to enhance player safety, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has established a new rule regarding serious injury replacements in domestic cricket. This regulation is set to take effect during the Duleep Trophy, which begins on August 28, coinciding with the start of the 2025-26 cricket season. Additionally, this rule will also be applicable to the Ranji Trophy, India's foremost first-class tournament, as reported by a sports news outlet.

According to the new guideline, teams will have the option to substitute a non-playing squad member for an injured player, provided the injury is classified as serious. The match referee will have the final say after reviewing a medical report that confirms the injury's severity. Notably, this rule is limited to injuries that occur during the match and are of an external nature, such as fractures or deep cuts, rather than internal injuries like hamstring strains.

The impetus for this rule arose after Rishabh Pant notably played with a fractured foot against England in Manchester earlier this year. Under the BCCI's new regulation, the replacement player must be selected from the list of substitutes announced at the toss. In cases where the wicketkeeper suffers a serious injury, the match referee may permit a replacement from outside the nominated substitutes if no wicketkeeper is available among them. Both the injured player and the substitute will be recorded as having participated in the match for statistical purposes. This initiative positions Indian domestic cricket as a potential testing ground for what could evolve into an international standard.