BCCI introduces new injury replacement rule for 2025-26 season post Rishabh Pant's injury during ENG vs IND 2025 series

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has updated the playing conditions to introduce injury replacements for the upcoming domestic 2025-26 season. The decision came after Rishabh Pant had to hobble down the stairs to bat with a broken foot during the fourth Test of the recently concluded series against England at Old Trafford in Manchester.

The BCCI has tweaked a few rules for the new season in the multi-day cricket under a new sub-head, ‘serious injury replacement’, stating that a like-for-like replacement, similar to concussion replacement rules, will be allowed. Along with that, changes have been made even for the deliberate short runs and retiring the batters. 

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“If a player sustains a serious injury during 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 the clause.” The newly introduced rule of the playing conditions states, as revealed by a report of Cricbuzz.

BCCI introduces new injury replacement after Rishabh Pant’s injury

Due to the injury, Pant was ruled out of the fifth and final fixture in the series at Kennington Oval. The southpaw is at risk of missing the home Test series against West Indies and the Asia Cup 2025. Both head coach Gautam Gambhir and England captain Ben Stokes had different views on the idea.

“If the umpires and the match referee see and feel that it's a major injury, I think it's very important. It's very important to have this rule where you can get a substitute - that is, if it's very visible. There's nothing wrong in doing that, especially in a series like this where it's been such a closely-fought series in the previous three Test matches.” Gambhir expressed in the press conference.

“It's ridiculous that there's a conversation around an injury replacement. There would just be too many loopholes for teams to be able to go through. You pick your eleven for a game; injuries are part of the game. I completely understand the concussion replacement, player welfare, and player safety.” The premier England all-rounder, Ben Stokes, concluded.