The BCCI on Saturday introduced a new clause in its playing conditions for the 2025-26 domestic season for "Serious Injury Replacements" in multi-day matches
The move comes following recent incidents in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy between India and England, which included wicketkeeper and vice captain Rishabh Pant suffering a fractured foot. This is one of the most significant amendments to the game’s rules in years.
The rule seems to have come into effect after the thrilling fourth and fifth Tests of the series, where Rishabh Pant fractured his foot and Chris Woakes dislocated his shoulder, leaving both teams effectively a player short.
Currently in domestic and international cricket, concussion substitutes following a head injury to a player are permitted. However, there were no provisions for replacements due to other serious injuries.
“If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted,” the BCCI’s updated Playing Conditions state.
For the replace the condition states that the injury must occur within the field of play and be the result of an external blow, such as a fracture, deep cut, or dislocation.
Mixed reaction for injury replacements
The rising calls for such an injury replacement had gotten mixed reactions during the England series. India head coach Gautam Gambhir, speaking after Pant’s injury in Manchester, welcomed the change. “Absolutely, I’m all for it. If umpires and referees see it’s a major injury, why should a team be punished? Imagine playing 10 vs 11 in a closely fought Test. There’s nothing wrong with allowing a visible, like-for-like replacement.”
On the other hand, England captain Ben Stokes dismissed the concept outright. “It’s absolutely ridiculous that there’s even a conversation around injury replacements. Injuries are part of the game. I understand concussion replacements for player safety, but this will create loopholes. You pick your eleven; that’s it.”
Despite Stokes’ stance, his own teammate Woakes’ dislocated shoulder in the very next Test added weight to the calls for reform.
Serious Injury Replacement rule
The rule does not cover the Indian Premier League (IPL) either.
The rule has already been explained to umpires at a seminar in Ahmedabad, with the BCCI stressing that the match referee’s decision is final and not open to appeal.
Although the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to implement such a rule, India’s domestic experiment could pave the way for wider discussions on whether Test cricket should evolve to shield teams from the setback of untimely injuries.
The move comes following recent incidents in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy between India and England, which included wicketkeeper and vice captain Rishabh Pant suffering a fractured foot. This is one of the most significant amendments to the game’s rules in years.
The rule seems to have come into effect after the thrilling fourth and fifth Tests of the series, where Rishabh Pant fractured his foot and Chris Woakes dislocated his shoulder, leaving both teams effectively a player short.
Currently in domestic and international cricket, concussion substitutes following a head injury to a player are permitted. However, there were no provisions for replacements due to other serious injuries.
“If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted,” the BCCI’s updated Playing Conditions state.
For the replace the condition states that the injury must occur within the field of play and be the result of an external blow, such as a fracture, deep cut, or dislocation.
Mixed reaction for injury replacements
The rising calls for such an injury replacement had gotten mixed reactions during the England series. India head coach Gautam Gambhir, speaking after Pant’s injury in Manchester, welcomed the change. “Absolutely, I’m all for it. If umpires and referees see it’s a major injury, why should a team be punished? Imagine playing 10 vs 11 in a closely fought Test. There’s nothing wrong with allowing a visible, like-for-like replacement.”
On the other hand, England captain Ben Stokes dismissed the concept outright. “It’s absolutely ridiculous that there’s even a conversation around injury replacements. Injuries are part of the game. I understand concussion replacements for player safety, but this will create loopholes. You pick your eleven; that’s it.”
Despite Stokes’ stance, his own teammate Woakes’ dislocated shoulder in the very next Test added weight to the calls for reform.
Serious Injury Replacement rule
- Replacements must be like-for-like and drawn from the nominated substitutes named at the toss.
- The match referee, after consultation with doctors and on-field umpires, will decide on the legitimacy of the replacement.
- A replacement player inherits all warnings, penalty time, or suspensions of the injured player.
- Wicketkeeper replacements may be permitted from outside the nominated substitutes if no reserve keeper is available.
- Both the injured player and the replacement will be recorded as having played the match.
The rule does not cover the Indian Premier League (IPL) either.
The rule has already been explained to umpires at a seminar in Ahmedabad, with the BCCI stressing that the match referee’s decision is final and not open to appeal.
Although the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to implement such a rule, India’s domestic experiment could pave the way for wider discussions on whether Test cricket should evolve to shield teams from the setback of untimely injuries.
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