This rule will particularly benefit teams dealing with unexpected wicketkeeper shortages.
In particular, this rule will benefit teams dealing with unexpected wicketkeeper shortages, offering them more strategic flexibility.
The IPL teams were required to make permanent replacements for injured or unavailable players in the past. However, for IPL 2025, the BCCI has reportedly implemented a special exemption rule that will enable teams to recruit temporary wicketkeeper replacements under the following conditions.
“If all the registered wicketkeepers in a squad are unavailable, the franchise can request a short-term replacement from the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP), a list of unsold players from the IPL 2025 auction,” a Cricbuzz report stated.
According to the report, the replacement player must be of Indian nationality, even if the original unavailable wicketkeeper is an overseas player.
The replacement will remain in the squad only until one of the original wicketkeepers regains fitness, after which the temporary player must be released. The replacement must be signed before the franchise’s 12th match of the season.
The BCCI made this major move as the wicketkeeper position is considered crucial in T20 cricket, and the team have often suffered due to unexpected injuries or national duty commitments.
By allowing temporary replacements, the Indian board aims to ensure that the teams do not face a setback due to a lack of specialist keepers.
In addition to the special exemption for wicketkeepers, the BCCI has reiterated and clarified the conditions under which a player can be replaced for the remainder of the season. These include:
The IPL 2025 season is slated to get underway with the KKR vs RCB clash on March 22 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.