For IPL 2025 BCCI announces franchise to sign players temporarily but with a “catch”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced groundbreaking regulations for IPL 2025, providing teams flexibility in player replacements under specific circumstances. A key highlight is the creation of the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP), which ensures fair and transparent recruitment of temporary replacements.
Key Rules for IPL 2025:
- Short-Term Wicketkeeper Replacements
Teams can request a replacement from the RAPP if all wicketkeepers in their squad are unavailable. Upon BCCI approval, a short-term replacement can be signed but must leave once any original squad wicketkeeper returns. If the unavailable wicketkeeper is an overseas player, the replacement must be Indian if the team has already filled its quota of eight overseas players.
- Season-Ending Injuries
Players with season-ending injuries or illnesses occurring before or during a team’s 12th league match can be replaced, provided a BCCI-nominated doctor confirms the injury. The replaced player cannot return during that season.
- Other Replacement Scenarios
Replacements are allowed for players unavailable due to international FTP commitments, lack of No Objection Certificate (NOC), confirmed injuries, retirement, or other BCCI-approved reasons. Only RAPP-listed players can be recruited, and replaced players cannot return during the season.
- Financial Terms
Replacement salaries cannot exceed those of unavailable players and are adjusted based on remaining matches. These salaries do not count toward the season’s salary cap.
- Compliance
Replacement players must come from the RAPP list, which includes players who registered for auctions but were not picked. Franchises must release net bowlers if signed by other teams as replacements and obtain BCCI approval before finalizing replacements.
These rules, particularly for wicketkeeper replacements, enhance team confidence and operational flexibility while maintaining fairness in player recruitment.