IPL 2025: Player Replacement Rules Explained

The IPL 2025 is underway across India, with 10 teams in action. A few days before the league started, the BCCI revealed the player replacement rules for the ongoing season.

Few franchises brought in last-minute replacements due to player injuries or pullouts before the season. And we might see a few more replacements even during the season.

But the franchises need to stick to the guidelines issued by the BCCI for player replacements.

On that note, we’ll look at the player replacement rules implemented in the IPL 2025 season.

Extended Player Replacement Window

First of all, the BCCI has extended the player replacement window in IPL 2025. Teams can now bring in replacements until their 12th league match.

The limit was until the seventh match last year. Thus, this is a good move for the franchises, as they can make strategic replacements.

Player Replacement Process in IPL 2025

If a team wants to replace an injured or ill player, then they can sign replacements only from the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP). The RAPP consists of players who remained unsold in the IPL 2025 Auction held in November 2024.

Teams can sign the players at their base price set in the auction. And the signing amount can’t be more than the injured or unavailable player’s season fee.

The replacement players’ contracted amount won’t affect the salary cap of the respective team for the current season. But if the franchise continues with the replacement player for the next season, then the season fee will come under their salary cap.

Also Read | IPL 2025: 6 New Rules Introduced This Season

Mid-Season Injury Replacements

Teams can sign replacements for their injured players mid-season in IPL 2025. But there are some regulations in place.

The teams can make changes mid-season:

If a player gets injured or ill on or before a team’s 12th league match.
If the injury or illness rules the player out of the season
A BCCI-nominated doctor confirms the season-ending injury and illness
If the concerned player wasn’t injured, he would have been available for the whole season.

Once a team meets all the criteria, then they can replace a player mid-season. The replaced player then won’t feature in the rest of the season.

Temporary Player Replacement

The BCCI has come up with a temporary player replacement provision in IPL 2025. But teams can use it only in exceptional conditions, like wicketkeepers.

If all wicketkeepers part of a team’s original squad are unavailable, then franchises can bring in a short-term replacement. The replacement keeper can play until one of the keepers from the original squad is available again.