The recently suspended IPL 2025 season is to resume this Saturday. There has been a major announcement of a change in the player replacement policy by the league amid ongoing scheduling interruptions and player withdrawals.
Temporary Replacements Permanent Feature in Final Stages
Advertisement
To make up for calendar conflicts and the non-availability of specific global players, the IPL 2025 governing council has come to the decision that franchises may sign temporary replacement players for the rest of the matches within the tournament. This is a break from the standard rule, which only made allowances for illness or injury-led replacements until a team’s 12th match of the season.
Retention Rules for Temporary Replacements in IPL 2025
The league has placed a key condition: any replacement players signed after the suspension of the IPL 2025 season will not be eligible for retention in subsequent years. These players will need to re-enter via the IPL 2026 Player Auction.
The action is designed to uphold the integrity of the auction mechanism and avoid franchises exploiting the replacement clause as a loophole to avoid bidding guidelines.
Franchise Memo: IPL 2025 Clarification on Player Eligibility
A memo released by the IPL 2025 officials confirmed the policy change:
Keeping in view the non-availability of some foreign players due to national obligations, personal issues, or any sickness or injury, Temporary Replacement Players will be permitted up to the end of this tournament.”
Nonetheless, the note once more outlines that these players must re-register for the IPL 2026 Auction and can’t be kept by their franchises on an interim basis.
Advertisement
Withdrawn and Approved Replacements So Far
There have been some notable overseas players formally withdrawn from the end of the tournament, including:
Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals)
Jamie Overton (Chennai Super Kings)
Before the suspension of the league, four replacement players were registered and remain eligible for retention in IPL 2026:
Sediqullah Atal (Delhi Capitals)
Mayank Agarwal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Rajasthan Royals)
Nandre Burger (Rajasthan Royals)
Strategic Adjustments as IPL 2025 Unfolds
Now that IPL 2025 is at a significant juncture, this new workflow allows teams to stay close to a position of competition despite player availability impediments. At the same time, it continues to uphold the integrity of the auction process by eliminating long-term contracts for short-term replacements.
ALSO READ: “Kabhi toh acha bol liya kare” Mohammed Shami Shuts Down Retirement Rumors
Advertisement