IPL 2025 (Source:@BabuRaoPHP,x.com)
In a significant development, the BCCI has explained a unique partial replacement rule, allowing franchises to temporarily replace players under specific conditions. According to a report by Cricbuzz, this provision enables teams to bring in short-term replacements under the RAPP when required.
Guidelines For Partial Replacements
While IPL franchises are accustomed to seeking full-season replacements for injured players, the BCCI has clarified scenarios where partial replacements may be permitted.
- If a player suffers a season-ending injury before or during the team's 12th league match, the franchise is allowed to replace him, even if he has played earlier in the season.
- Additionally, if a team faces a situation where all its wicket-keepers are unavailable for a match, they can seek a special exemption from the BCCI to bring in a temporary wicketkeeper from outside their squad.
- However, once one of their specialist keepers is fit, the replacement will no longer be eligible to play. In cases where the unavailable wicketkeeper is an overseas player and the team already has eight overseas players, the replacement must be a domestic player.
“In such circumstances, the franchisee shall immediately inform the BCCI upon any of its specialist wicketkeepers becoming eligible to play after any such period of unavailability. If one of the unavailable wicket keepers in a franchisee’s Registered Squad is an Overseas player and that Franchisee has its full quota of 8 Overseas players, the Replacement Player may not be an Overseas player," the communication says.
However, it is important to mention that no IPL team has reportedly used this provision in the last 17 seasons. The BCCI’s recent communication aims to clarify the conditions and limitations of these short-term replacements. The IPL 2025 season kicks off on March 22, with Kolkata Knight Riders facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opener.