The current season of the Indian Premier League is set to resume from May 17, following a week-long suspension that was necessitated by the cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
Temporary replacement rule for last leg of IPL 2025
Six cities have been selected to host the remaining 13 matches of the group stage, Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. However, venues for the four playoff matches, including the final scheduled for June 3, have not yet been officially announced. The seven-day suspension has compelled the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to extend the duration of the glitzy league, resulting in a scheduling conflict with the international cricket calendar.
Consequently, several overseas players have withdrawn from the competition due to international commitments or personal reasons. While a number of international cricketers are expected to return to India, notable absentees for the last leg of IPL 2025 include Jake Fraser-McGurk and Jamie Overton.
The situation has left some franchises without adequate backup options within their squads, requiring them to seek replacement players. The original regulations permitted teams to sign replacements in cases of illness or injury occurring during or before their 12th match of the season. However, given the exceptional circumstances that have unfolded in IPL 2025, this rule has been amended.
As per a report by ESPNcricinfo, the governing council of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has decided to implement a 'temporary replacement' rule for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season.
Under this newly introduced regulation, all ten IPL franchises will be permitted to sign temporary replacement players for the final part of the 2025 season. However, it's important to note that these temporary replacements will not be eligible for retention by the respective franchises for the subsequent season.
The governing council of the Indian Premier League has communicated to the franchises that they have reassessed the situation. Consequently, teams are now permitted to sign temporary replacement players for the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2025 season. However, it has been explicitly stated that these temporary players will not be eligible for retention by the franchises for the following year's competition.
"Given the non-availability of certain foreign players due to national commitments or personal reasons or any injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament This decision is subject to the condition that the Temporary Replacement players taken from this point forward will not be eligible for retention in the following year. Temporary Replacement players will have to register for the IPL Player Auction 2026," the league said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.