New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council have decided to allow all ten franchises to pick temporary replacements for the remainder of IPL 2025 in order to complete the season smoothly. However, the move is solely for the ongoing season and will not be carried over next year.
The decision has been taken by the IPL governing council, keeping in mind the issues being faced by several teams, who are uncertain about some of the overseas players returning for the resumption of the tournament on May 17. IPL 2025 was suspended for a week on Friday, May 09, amid the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. However, the league is set to resume on May 17 after India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire on Saturday.
The BCCI reportedly communicated to all ten teams on Wednesday, May 14, confirming that they were reassessing the player replacement rules to allow the teams to have temporary replacements for the rest of IPL 2025. However, the board made it clear that the team won’t be able to retain the players signed as temporary replacements.
“Due to non-availability of certain players due to national commitment or personal reasons, or injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament,” IPL COO Hemang Amin wrote to the franchises in an email, as per Cricbuzz.
“This decision is subject to the condition that the Temporary Replacement 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,” he added.
In the email, the IPL COO also confirmed that the players signed by teams as replacements before the suspension of the league will be eligible to be retained permanently ahead of the IPL 2026 auction next year.
Several overseas players doubtful to return for IPL 2025
The move to allow temporary replacements for the teams has been taken by the BCCI to help them navigate through the season as several overseas players are doubtful to return. While Fraser McGurk has already pulled out of the remainder of IPL 2025, Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc is also doubtful to return for Delhi Capitals.
Australian players like Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood had also returned home after the league was suspended, and it remains to be seen when they will rejoin their respective squads. Meanwhile, DC have signed Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement for Fraser-McGurk amid doubts over Starc’s return.
Travis Head and Pat Cummins have told Sunrisers Hyderabad that they will be rejoining the team soon. However, the status of SRH’s other overseas players like Heinrich Klaasen, Kamindu Mendis and Eshan Malinga is not known yet.
All ten franchises will be allowed to pick temporary replacements for the remainder of the season as the IPL 2025 is set to resume from May 17. The BCCI has decided to allow temporary replacements as many overseas players are doubtful to return. IPL Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
