IPL Player Replacement Rule Explained

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) allows replacements if a player suffers a season-ending injury or illness, either prior to the season or in the middle of it. The rule has been revised to allow replacements till the 12th league match of the season.

Eligibility Criteria for Replacement Players

To be eligible for replacement, a player must have their name included on the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) list for the relevant season. Their league fee for the full season must not be less than the reserve price set by them on the RAPP list.

Replacement Regulations

• A replacement player can be recruited at a fee not more than the league fee that would have been payable to the player they are replacing.
• If a replacement player is recruited during a season, their league fee will be reduced to account for matches played before they were registered.
• The league fee payable to a replacement player will be ignored for the purpose of the salary cap for that season.

Salary Cap Implications

• Franchisees must remain in compliance with the squad composition regulations of 25 players while taking replacement players.
• Franchisees who take replacement players during the 2025, 2026, and 2027 seasons have the right to extend the contract for the next applicable season.

Mid-Season Replacement

• A mid-season replacement is allowed if a player suffers a season-ending injury or illness during or before the 12th league match of the relevant team in the season.
• The injury or illness must be confirmed by a doctor nominated by the BCCI as season-ending.
• The player would have been available for all remaining matches in the season if not for the injury or illness.
• The player who is replaced may not play for the franchisee again in any match during the relevant season.