IPL tweaks replacement rule to help teams tackle loss of overseas players

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has allowed franchises to sign replacement players on a temporary basis for the remaining matches of the ongoing 18th season keeping in mind the uncertainty surrounding the availability of overseas players.

The IPL is set to return to action on Saturday, 17 May following a week-long suspension due to the military conflict between India and Pakistan. A majority of overseas players and members of the support staff had gone back home during the suspension, as did those participating in the Pakistan Super League.

And while a majority of foreign nationals are expected to return to India for the remainder of the season – which takes place between 17 May and 3 June – there are doubts over the availability of key players such as Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, among others.

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Additionally, players such as Delhi Capitals’ Jake Fraser-McGurk and Chennai Super Kings’ Jamie Overton having already announced their withdrawal from the remaining matches of the season.

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Normally, a franchise can sign replacement players from the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) – those who had registered in the IPL auction but did not find a bidder or did not go under the hammer at all. The rules, however, make it clear that a franchise can make last-minute additions to their squad till their 12th match of the season, and not beyond.

The world’s biggest T20 league, thus, has tweaked the replacement rule one a one-time basis keeping in mind the circumstances under which it will be returning to action a week-long pause.

The temporary replacement players, however, will not be eligible to be retained by the franchise next year, but most certainly can register for the auction.

“Given the non-availability of certain foreign players due to national commitments or personal reasons or any injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament,” read an official statement from the IPL Governing Council.

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“This decision is subject to the condition that the Temporary Replacement players taken from this point forward will not be eligible for retention in the following year. Temporary Replacement players will have to register for the IPL Player Auction 2026,” it added.

Delhi Capitals, who currently are fifth on the points table with 13 points from 11 games, signed Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman as the replacement for top-order batter Fraser-McGurk – who was in Dharamsala when the match against Punjab Kings at the HPCA Stadium was called off due to security concerns owing to the military standoff.