In a landmark move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has amended the playing conditions for the upcoming 2025–26 domestic season, introducing ‘Serious Injury Replacements’ in multi-day cricket. The rule—similar in spirit to the existing concussion substitute provision—will allow teams to field a like-for-like replacement if a player sustains a major injury during play.
The idea has gained traction ever since the Anderson–Tendulkar series in England, where key players like Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes suffered injuries that severely impacted their sides. Pant endured a fractured foot, while Woakes dislocated his shoulder, leaving both players unable to continue in the final two Tests.
The decision, however, has split opinion. Gautam Gambhir welcomed the move, calling it “important for fairness and player safety,” while England captain Ben Stokes dismissed it as “absolutely ridiculous,” arguing it could open loopholes and compromise the spirit of team selection.
For now, the BCCI has clarified that the rule will apply only to multi-day cricket, including the CK Nayudu Trophy (Under-19), and will not be extended to white-ball tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or Vijay Hazare Trophy. Its inclusion in future IPL seasons remains uncertain.
The amended playing conditions were explained to officials at the ongoing umpires’ seminar in Ahmedabad, with the BCCI Match Referee entrusted as the final authority on approving replacements.
THE RULES
Serious Injury Replacement
1.2.8.1 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:
1.2.8.1.1 The serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in clause 1.2.5.2 above. 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.
1.2.8.1.2 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.
1.2.8.1.3 The Team Manager shall submit a Serious Injury Replacement Request to the BCCI Match Referee on a standard form, which shall:
1.2.8.1.3.1 Identify the player who has sustained the serious injury.
1.2.8.1.3.2 Specify the incident in which the serious injury was sustained, including the time at which it occurred.
1.2.8.1.3.3 Confirm that the player has sustained a serious injury and will not be able to participate further in the match due to the injury.
1.2.8.1.3.4 Identify the requested Serious Injury Replacement, who shall be like-for-like replacement for the player who has sustained the serious injury.
1.2.8.1.3.5 In all circumstances serious injury replacement player shall be from nominated substitutes at the time of toss (For Col C K Nayudu Trophy from the time of nomination of players). Only in the case where wicket-keeper is seriously injured and needs a replacement then Match Referee may allow a wicket-keeper from player outside the nominated substitutes if there is no wicket-keeper in the nominated substitutes.
1.2.8.2 The Serious Injury Replacement Request must be submitted to the BCCI Match Referee as soon as possible after the incident specified in clause 1.2.8.1.3.2 if a Serious Injury Replacement is to be permitted.
1.2.8.3 The BCCI Match Referee should ordinarily approve a Serious Injury Replacement Request if the replacement is a like-for-like player whose inclusion will not excessively advantage his team for the remainder of the match.
1.2.8.4 In assessing whether the nominated Serious Injury Replacement should be considered a like-for-like player, the BCCI Match Referee should consider the likely role that the seriously injured player would have played during the remainder of the match, and the normal role that would be performed by the nominated Serious Injury Replacement.
1.2.8.5 If the BCCI Match Referee believes that the inclusion of the nominated Serious Injury Replacement, when performing their normal role, would excessively advantage their team, the BCCI Match Referee may impose such conditions upon the identity and involvement of the Serious Injury Replacement as he/she sees fit, in line with the overriding objective of facilitating a like-for-like replacement for the seriously injured player.
For clarity, a Serious Injury replacement will inherit all warnings, penalty time and suspensions that were imposed on the replaced player.
1.2.8.6 The BCCI Match Referee may, in reviewing a Serious Injury Replacement Request made in accordance with clause 1.2.8.1.3 request any such further information as may be required in order to make the determination required under clauses 1.2.8.4 and 1.2.8.5.
1.2.8.7 The decision of the BCCI Match Referee in relation to any Serious Injury Replacement Request shall be final and neither team shall have any right of appeal.
1.2.8.8 Once the Serious Injury Replacement has been approved by the BCCI Match Referee, the replaced player shall take no further part in the match.
1.2.8.9 Both the Serious Injury Replacement and the replaced player shall be considered to have played in the match for records and statistical purposes.
Deliberate short run
A deliberate short run is an attempt for batters to appear to run more than one run, while at least one batter deliberately does not make good their ground at one end. Batters may choose to abort a run, provided the umpire believes that there was no intention by the batter concerned to deceive the umpires or to score the run in which they didn’t make their ground.
- Request the captain of the fielding side to identify which of the two batters will take strike for the next delivery.
Retiring batsman
25.4.3 If a batsman retires for any reason other than as in clause 25.4.2, he will be considered as dismissed immediately and will not have option of returning to bat even with the consent of opposite captain. His innings will be recorded as ‘Retired – out’.
