Serious Injury Replacement Rule Limited to India’s Domestic Multi-Day Matches

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sanctioned the use of serious injury replacement players for multi-day matches in the 2025-26 domestic season, according to reports emerging from Indian media on Saturday.

The rule change follows the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and England’s Chris Woakes were reportedly compelled to participate despite dealing with significant injuries.

Under the new guidelines, a player must sustain an injury during play that prevents them from continuing in the match. This injury must occur within the confines of the designated playing area.

The on-field umpires will have the authority to make the ultimate decision, potentially consulting with the BCCI match referee or the on-site medical professional.

The newly-introduced rule in the BCCI’s Playing Conditions states, “If a player suffers a serious injury during the match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted under specific circumstances. The serious injury must have occurred during play inside the defined playing area.”

The rule specifies, “The injury must result from an external impact causing fracture, deep cut, or dislocation, rendering the player unable to continue playing for the remainder of the match.”

It further clarifies, “Onfield umpires will have the final say in determining the severity of the injury and approving a Serious Injury Replacement. They may seek advice from the BCCI Match Referee and/or the doctor present at the ground.”

With the introduction of the ‘serious injury replacement’ provision, teams can now bring in a like-for-like replacement for an injured player. This mirrors the concussion substitute rule, which was first implemented in international cricket back in 2019.