 "BCCI introduces 'Serious Injury Replacement' for 2025-26 domestic season; here's what the new rule is all about")
In light of wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's recent foot injury that forced him to miss the fifth Test against England at The Oval, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to amend its playing conditions for the upcoming domestic season.
According to Cricbuzz, the BCCI will allow ‘Serious Injury Replacements’ for multi-day matches in the 2025-26 season, the idea having been discussed at length since the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which saw multiple instances of a player having to play despite nursing injury.
What exactly is a ‘Serious Injury Replacement’?
According to the BCCI, the player will have to have suffered the injury during the course of the game, as well as “within the playing area”.
“If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted in the following circumstances. The serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in clause,” reads the newly-introduced rule in the BCCI’s Playing Conditions.
“The injury must have occurred due to an external blow and result in fracture / deep cut / dislocation etc. The injury should render player unavailable for remainder of the match.
“Onfield umpires shall be final authority do decide on extend of serious injury and allowability of Serious Injury Replacement. They may consult BCCI Match Referee and / or doctor available on ground,” the rule added.
In such scenarios, teams will be permitted to carry out a like-for-like replacement for the injured player, much like the provision in concussion substitutes.
Pant had suffered a fracture on his foot while attempting to reverse-sweep a yorker from Chris Woakes on the opening day of the fourth Test in Manchester. The India vice-captain was batting on 37 at the time of the injury, and hobbled his way to the centre on the following day to not only bring up his half-century, but to also help the visitors cross 350.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAnd Woakes, who had inadvertently caused the injury to Pant, would find himself in a similar situation in the series finale at The Oval, having suffered a dislocated shoulder while fielding on the opening day. Woakes took no further part in the game until walking out to bat with his left arm in a sling on the final day during England’s chase of the 374-run target.
It remains to be seen whether BCCI’s new rule is implemented in international cricket as well, considering the Indian board’s considerable influence on the game. The International Cricket Council had in 2019 introduced concussion substitutes but is yet to come up with anything remotely similar to a ‘Serious Injury Replacement’.
Besides injury replacements, the BCCI has also made rule changes on deliberate short runs and retiring batters.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
