BCCI Introduces Serious Injury Replacement Rules for Domestic Cricket

For domestic multi-day red-ball tournaments, BCCI has introduced a Serious Injury Replacement rule through Clause 1.2.8 to the Standard Playing Conditions for 2025-26. Prior to this, only concussion replacement-related provisions were present. The change was triggered by the injuries suffered by Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes during the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series between India and England.

The new rule allows a team to substitute a player who sustains a significant injury during a match, provided certain conditions are met. The injury must occur during play, within the defined playing area, and result from an external blow leading to conditions such as a fracture, dislocation, or deep cut, rendering the player unavailable for the remainder of the match. The decision to permit a replacement rests primarily with the on-field umpires, who may consult the MCA Match Referee or an on-ground doctor before approving the request.

To initiate the process, the Team Manager must submit a formal Serious Injury Replacement Request specifying the details of the injured player, the incident, and the proposed replacement. The replacement must be a like-for-like player from the nominated substitutes named at the toss. An exception exists for wicket-keepers: if no substitute wicket-keeper is available, the umpires or referee may allow an external replacement, provided the player is registered with the MCA. The request must be submitted promptly after the injury occurs to ensure timely assessment and decision-making.

Approval of a Serious Injury Replacement is generally expected if the nominated substitute aligns closely with the injured player’s role, without providing undue advantage to the team. Umpires or the referee may seek additional details to assess the fairness of the substitution and, if necessary, impose conditions to maintain competitive balance. Once approved, the injured player can no longer participate, and both the injured player and the replacement are recorded as having played the match for official records. The decision of the umpires or referee is final and not subject to appeal.

The rule was recently used for the first time when Maharashtra wicketkeeper-batter Saurabh Nawale was subbed in under the regulation during the Duleep Trophy 2025 semi-final between West Zone and Central Zone.