IPL 2025: With IPL 2025 yet to begin, multiple teams have already announced key player replacements, and one has even landed in legal trouble. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) brought in Chetan Sakariya for Umran Malik, Mumbai Indians (MI) replaced Allah Ghazanfar with Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) signed Wiaan Mulder in place of Brydon Carse.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) could also announce changes, with Shardul Thakur or Shivam Mavi potentially replacing one of their injured pacers—Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, or Avesh Khan. However, the biggest controversy surrounds Corbin Bosch, who joined Mumbai Indians as a replacement for Lizaad Williams. He is now facing possible legal action from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for allegedly violating his Pakistan Super League (PSL) contract to join IPL.
IPL Player Replacement Rules Explained
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) permits player replacements if a cricketer suffers a season-ending injury or illness, either before or during the tournament. This year, BCCI has updated the regulations, extending the replacement window until a team’s 12th league match, up from the previous limit of seven matches.
To qualify as a Replacement Player, the following conditions must be met:
- The player must be listed in the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) for the relevant season.
- His league fee cannot be lower than his reserve price set in the RAPP list.
- If a team has a net bowler listed in the RAPP, they cannot prevent another franchise from signing him.
- The replacement player’s contract cannot exceed the fee of the cricketer he is replacing.
- If recruited mid-season, his salary will be adjusted based on the number of remaining matches.
Impact on IPL Salary Cap
IPL’s salary cap regulations treat replacement players differently from regular squad members. As per BCCI rules:
- The replacement player’s fee is not counted against the franchise’s salary cap for that season.
- If the team retains the replacement player for the next season, his full salary will then be considered under the cap.
- Franchisees must ensure their squad size does not exceed 25 players even after making replacements.
The BCCI has also clarified that any franchise signing a replacement player for the 2025, 2026, or 2027 seasons can extend their contract, but in future seasons, they will be treated like any other squad member for salary cap and squad composition rules.
Mid-Season Replacement Rules
A mid-season replacement is allowed only if:
- The player is injured before or during the team’s 12th league match.
- A BCCI-appointed doctor confirms that the injury is season-ending.
- The player would have been fully available for the rest of the season if not for the injury.
- The injury forces the player to miss all remaining matches.
Once a player is replaced, he cannot rejoin the squad for the remainder of the season.
Replacement Players and Their Salaries
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman joined Mumbai Indians (MI) for INR 2 crore, replacing Allah Ghazanfar, who was originally signed for INR 4.8 crore.
- Wiaan Mulder and Chetan Sakariya were signed for INR 75 lakh each by SRH and KKR, respectively.
- Corbin Bosch’s salary details remain undisclosed, but he was listed at INR 30 lakh in the IPL auction, where he went unsold. He later joined Mumbai Indians in place of Lizaad Williams, who was signed for INR 75 lakh.
However, Bosch’s contract with Peshawar Zalmi in PSL reportedly valued between INR 50-75 lakh (USD 60,000-80,000). His move to IPL has now triggered a legal dispute with PCB, alleging a breach of contract.
What’s Next?
With the IPL yet to begin, more replacements could be announced, especially for teams like Lucknow Super Giants, who are still assessing their injury concerns. Meanwhile, the legal battle between Corbin Bosch and PCB could set a precedent for future cross-league transfers between IPL and PSL.