IPL 2025 new rules for replacing Injured players: Important rule update for RCB, CSK, MI, KKR and other franchises

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced significant clarifications regarding player replacements for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. All the franchises, including CSK, RCB, MI, KKR and others, will be affected by it.

In a recent communique sent to all ten franchises, the BCCI has detailed the circumstances under which teams can bring in replacements, particularly addressing injury-related substitutions and the introduction of a new player pool system, reported Cricbuzz.

IPL 2025: Key Changes in Player Replacement Rules

One of the most noteworthy updates is the provision for partial replacements in exceptional circumstances. While teams are generally not allowed to sign and release players for short durations, the new rules provide an exemption specifically for wicketkeepers.

If a franchise's entire set of registered wicketkeepers is unavailable for a match, they can request special permission from the BCCI to temporarily sign a wicketkeeper from outside their squad. However, once one of the original wicketkeepers returns to fitness, the temporary replacement will no longer be eligible to play.

Additionally, for a player suffering a season-ending injury or illness, replacements are permitted only under strict conditions:

• The injury or illness must occur before or during the team’s 12th league match.
• A doctor nominated by the BCCI must confirm that the injury rules out participation for the remainder of the season.
• The injured player must have otherwise been available for all remaining matches.

Once replaced, the injured player cannot return to play for the same franchise in that season.

Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) System

The BCCI has also reinforced the use of the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) for selecting replacements. Players in this pool must have been part of the IPL auction but gone unsold or not withdrawn from the auction process. Franchises can only sign replacements from this pool, ensuring transparency and fairness in mid-season player acquisitions.

Moreover, franchises that sign net bowlers from the RAPP list must release them immediately if another team wishes to draft them as a replacement player. This prevents teams from holding onto potential replacements unfairly.

Salary Cap and Financial Implications

Replacement players can only be signed at a fee that does not exceed that of the injured or unavailable player. The amount paid to replacement players will be adjusted based on the number of matches remaining in the season.

The fee paid to replacement players will not count towards the franchise's salary cap for IPL 2025. However, if a replacement player's contract is extended beyond 2025, his salary will count towards the cap in the following season.

Franchises must obtain prior approval from the BCCI before signing a replacement player. No replacements can be signed before the auction, ensuring that teams maintain compliance with squad composition regulations. Teams must also ensure they do not exceed the maximum limit of overseas players while signing a replacement.

Impact on Major IPL Franchises

These updates are particularly crucial for franchises like Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and others, as injuries have frequently disrupted team compositions in past seasons. With clearer guidelines in place, franchises now have a structured approach to finding replacements, reducing uncertainty and ensuring fair competition.

As IPL 2025 gears up for action, these revised replacement policies will play a critical role in shaping team strategies. Teams will now need to plan ahead, considering injury contingencies and their available options within the RAPP framework. The new system ensures that no team gains an unfair advantage while maintaining competitive balance throughout the season.