Rishabh Pant's injury prompts BCCI to introduce 'serious injury replacement'
The five-match India vs England Test series witnessed multiple players from both teams enduring niggles and injuries. The most significant, however, were the blows sustained by Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter injured his right foot as he attempted a reverse sweep off Woakes in the Manchester Test, the fourth fixture in the series. Pant's bat edged the ball, which then struck his foot, fracturing the impacted area. With no provision for a replacement player in such injuries, Pant had to return to bat with his fractured foot at Old Trafford. While the series is now over, the BCCI has taken its lessons and introduced a new replacement rule for the upcoming domestic season.
Following Rishabh Pant's injury in the Manchester Test, a debate arose over whether a replacement should be allowed in such severe cases. The Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir, spoke in favor of introducing this provision. However, Ben Stokes, the English captain, refuted the need for such a step. In the next match, the fifth and final India vs England Test at The Oval, Chris Woakes dislocated his left shoulder. The pace spearhead of the English attack, all the more important in the absence of Ben Stokes, landed awkwardly on his shoulder on the opening day of The Oval Test.
England's attack had to do without Woakes for the rest of the match. While not with the cherry in hand, Woakes had to return to the field with his dislocated shoulder. As The Oval Test went right down to the wire on Day 5, Woakes came out to bat with a sling around his arm. Both cases, Pant batting with a fractured foot and Woakes stepping in with a dislocated shoulder, while earning respect for their spirit, also called for introspection. While the rest of the boards deliberate, the BCCI has acted and introduced a new rule.
BCCI introduces 'serious injury replacement' provision ahead of the upcoming domestic season
The BCCI, taking note of Rishabh Pant’s injury during the India vs England series, has introduced a new provision in domestic cricket. Beginning this season, teams in multi-day competitions such as the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy will be permitted to field a “serious injury replacement.” The board has already circulated an official notification to state units, while umpires and match officials have also been apprised of the change.
"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," the newly-introduced rule states. “The serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in the clause,” it reads further.
As per the revised playing conditions, a player who sustains a major injury during a match can be substituted with a like-for-like replacement. The rule, however, is restricted to multi-day fixtures and will not be enforced in limited-overs tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy or the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The new guideline will also extend to the CK Nayudu Trophy, the multi-day Under-19 competition. Whether such a measure will be adopted in IPL 2026 remains uncertain.
