IPL replacement rules: When an outsider is allowed

EXPLAINER

IPL replacement rules: When an outsider is allowed

by Vijay Tagore • Last updated on

BCCI sent a communique to the 10 teams to clarify rules regarding replacements for IPL 2025 © BCCI

Is there a possibility for an IPL team to include a player who is not part of its registered squad and later release him? Specifically, can a team sign a player for only a part of the season, rather just for one match, and then let him go? While one might assume that such temporary ad hoc arrangements are not allowed, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has, in fact, made provisions for exceptional circumstances where partial replacements are permitted.

In a communique to the teams, the BCCI clarifies the circumstances when a partial replacement is allowed and also speaks of creation of a pool called RAPP (Registered Available Player Pool). The franchise can only take players from RAPP for replacements. The concept of RAPP has also been clearly defined.

The exceptional provision pertains to wicketkeepers. States the relevant clause: "6.1: Replacement Players will not be allowed to cover the partial unavailability of a Player during the Season unless either one of the following circumstances applies:

(a) Where all the wicket keepers in a Franchisee's Registered Squad are unavailable for a Match then such franchisee should ask BCCI for a special exemption. In such circumstances, BCCI would look favourably on a request to allow one short-term replacement wicketkeeper from outside such Franchisee's Registered Squad to be brought into its Registered Squad until any one of the specialist wicketkeepers in that Registered Squad becomes available to play at which point such short-term replacement wicketkeeper may no longer play for the relevant Franchisee.

"In such circumstances, the franchisee shall immediately inform the BCCI upon any of its specialist wicketkeepers becoming eligible to play after any such period of unavailability. If one of the unavailable wicket keepers in a franchisee's Registered Squad is an Overseas player and that Franchisee has its full quota of 8 Overseas players, the Replacement Player may not be an Overseas player."

According to the managers of the IPL franchises contacted by this website, this is an extraordinary rule. However, there is no recorded instance of any team having utilized it in the 17 seasons. A provision, though, has been created.

The other replacement clauses, for the record:

(b) A player who suffers a season-ending injury or illness may be replaced even if he has already played in a League Match during that Season if all of the following criteria are met:

i) The said injury or illness occurs during or before the 12th League Match of the relevant Team in the Season;

ii) a doctor nominated by the BCCI confirms that the injury or illness is season ending (i.e. it means the Player will not be match fit until after the end of the Season (including the Playoffs);

iii) absent the injury or illness, the Player would have been available for all of the remaining Matches in the Season; and

iv) as a result of the injury or illness, the Player would miss the remaining League Matches in that Season.

NB: In such circumstances, the Player who is replaced may not play for the Franchisee again in any Match during the relevant Season.

6.2. Apart from the exceptions noted in paragraph 6.1, Replacement Players will only be allowed if a Player is completely unavailable for all Matches in a Season.

6.3. For the purposes of this paragraph 6, a Player's unavailability for all Matches in a Season may be for any or any combination of the following reasons:

(a) FTP commitment of a Player,

(b) no NOC from the national cricket board or State Association,

(c) injury or illness (to be certified by a home board medical expert and a doctor nominated by the BCCI),

(d) retirement from all professional cricket, including domestic cricket. Retirement from the IPL is not sufficient

(e) any other valid reason approved by the BCCI. In each instance, BCCI must confirm its acceptance in writing that the Player is completely unavailable for all Matches in a Season.

NB: In such circumstances the Player who is replaced may not play for the Franchisee again in any Match during such Season.

6.4. Only one Replacement Player may be taken for each Player that is unavailable.

6.5. To act as a Replacement Player, the player's name must have been included on the Registered Available Player Pool ("RAPP") list for the relevant Season and his League Fee for the full Season - assuming 100% availability - must not be less than the reserve price set by the Player as documented on the RAPP list. The RAPP list contains the names of Players who were registered for the Player Auction for the relevant Season subject to the player (a) not having been taken in the Player Auction and (b) not having withdrawn from the Player Auction process.

Franchisees who separately contract with players on the RAPP list to act as net bowlers during the 2025 Season shall have no prior call on that player if another Franchisee wishes to take that player as a replacement, pursuant to this paragraph 6 and must immediately release him if he agrees terms to be a Replacement Player for another Franchisee.

6.6. A Replacement Player signed pursuant to either paragraph 6.1 or 6.2 can be recruited at a League Fee which shall not be more than the League Fee that would have been payable to the injured/unavailable Player for the relevant Season. If a Replacement Player is recruited during a Season, the League Fee actually paid to him will be reduced to take account of the Franchisee's Matches during the relevant Season which took place before he was registered and any other relevant deductions under the Player Contract.

6.7. The League Fee payable to any Replacement Player signed pursuant to this paragraph 6 will be ignored for the purpose of the Salary Cap for that Season. If a Replacement Player's Player Contract is extended in accordance with its terms, the League Fee payable to the Player for the subsequent Season will be charged against the Salary Cap for the relevant Season.

6.8. Prior to signing a Replacement Player, the Franchisee must send all relevant information to the BCCI and await permission from BCCI before concluding the arrangement.

6.9. In any Season, Replacement Players can only be signed after the Player Auction for the relevant Season.

6.10. In taking any Replacement Players under this paragraph 6, Franchisees must remain in compliance with the squad composition regulations described in paragraphs 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 of this Section A.

© Cricbuzz

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