New BCCI’s Injury Replacement Rule for Multi-Day Cricket

A new rule called “Serious Injury Replacement” has been introduced in Indian cricket. It aims to improve conditions for players and ensure a fairer approach to situations involving injuries. The introduction of this rule was prompted by recent serious injuries to Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes during the Anderson-Tendulkar series in England.

Changes Were Necessary

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) initiated the creation of the new rule. It is noted that it will allow teams to replace injured players in multi-day cricket during the upcoming national season. However, the rule will not apply to white ball cricket, such as the Syed Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare tournaments. But it will definitely be in effect for the multi-day Under 23 tournament for the CK Nayudu Trophy. There is currently no information on the application of the rule in IPL 2026.

Mixed Reactions

After the details of the new rule were announced, fans and experts reacted with mixed opinions. For instance, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir believes that this regulation will be very beneficial and will help maintain team competitiveness in the event of serious injuries to their players. Ben Stokes from England, on the other hand, has a different view. He thinks that injuries are a part of the game and that the new regulation could provide loopholes for manipulation.

Regardless, the changes have been made. As clarified by the BCCI, the final authority to decide on the severity of an injury, after consultation with the team doctor, will be the match referee.