Indian wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant suffered a serious leg injury during the recent Manchester Test match against England. Pant then wanted to hit a reverse sweep off the ball of Chris Woakes, but Vopuri missed and became engrossed. Due to injury, Pant could not do wicketkeeping in that match. Also, he had to be out of the Oval Test match. Rishabh Pant will now be out of the Asia Cup 2025.
Then during the Oval Test match, English fast bowler Chris Woakes also got the left shoulder injured. After the injury of Pant and Vokes, there was a lot of debate about the current substitute rules of the ICC. Please tell that if a player has injury, then the player who comes in his place is not eligible for batting or bowling.
The convention subsidy is allowed only when the players get hurt in the head or eye. The convention is eligible for substitute batting or bowling. Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes did not get hurt in the head or eye, so their replacement was not allowed for batting or bowling. Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir believed that if a player is seriously injured during the match, then he should get the option of a substitute player.
Gambhir and Stokes came face to face
Gautam Gambhir said at the press conference after the end of the Manchester Test match against England, “If the injury is clearly visible and the player is not fit at all, it should be replaced with the approval of the umpire and the match referee. This rule is very important so that the match remains 11 vs 11, not 10 vs 11.
At the same time, England captain Ben Stokes did not agree with Gautam Gambhir. Ben Stokes said after the Manchester Test match, ‘You choose 11 players, the injury is part of the game. If this happens, the teams will try to benefit in many ways.
Now after Rishabh Pant’s injury, the Cricket Control Board of India (BCCI) has made major changes in the playing conditions for the upcoming domestic season (2025-26). Now, if the player suffers a serious injury during the match in matches like Multi-Day Cricket (Ranji Trophy and CK Naidu Trophy), then the player who landed in his place will be able to bat or bowl. This Serious Injury Replacement Rule is somewhat similar to the Concisition Substitute Rules.
What is Sirius Injury Replacement Rule?
If a player has to leave the match during the game due to fracture, deep or any external injury, then the team manager may ask for permission for Serious Injury Replacement from BCCI match referee. However, the new player should be like for likes. For example, if a bowler is injured, then only the bowler will come in his place.
The replacement player will be allowed only then. When the match referee and on-field umpire consider it a serious injury. If there is no other wicketkeeper in the substitute list, the referee can allow another player as a wicketkeeper. Both the injured players and his replacement will be considered played in the match and their figures will be recorded in the records.
Let us know that the BCCI is not currently implementing this rule in white ball cricket (Vijay Hazare Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy). The Indian Premier League (IPL) is yet to be decided in 2026 or not.
♦ BCCI has also made changes in the rules related to short runs in domestic cricket. If the batsmen show that they have completed the run, but in reality one of them does not deliberately reach his crease, then it will be considered as a Delabrate Short Run. The umpires count as many runs in this case, as many batsmen have completed correctly. And if the run is left incomplete, then that run is not added. But in such a case, now the umpire will ask the captain of the opposition team which batsman will take the strike on the next ball.
♦ Now if the batsman retires without injury or special reason, he will be considered directly retired out and he will not be able to bat again.
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