The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 player replacement rules have come under scrutiny after multiple franchises exploited a loophole to sign players mid-season, raising concerns about fairness and transparency in squad building.
Controversy Over Mid-Season Signings
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK) signed Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, and Urvil Patel, despite being eliminated from playoff contention.
- Rajasthan Royals (RR) brought in Lhuan-de Pretorius and Nande Burger, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) signed Smaran Ravichandran, who was later replaced by Harsh Dubey due to injury.
- Delhi Capitals (DC) replaced Harry Brook with Seddiqullah Attal, two months after Brook confirmed his withdrawal.
How Teams Are Exploiting the Rule
The IPL allows teams to sign replacements for injured players before their 12th league match. However, franchises have used this provision to secure top performers from domestic and international leagues without entering the auction, signing them at base price instead of market value.
Additionally, teams can retain both the injured player and their replacement for the next season, effectively expanding their squad size. For example:
- CSK can keep Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre by releasing other players.
- SRH can retain Smaran Ravichandran, Adam Zampa, and Harsh Dubey, even though Ravichandran never played a match before getting injured.
Calls for Rule Revisions
Critics argue that the replacement player rule needs reform, questioning whether teams should be allowed to sign players mid-season when they had the chance to build a full squad during the auction. The ability to replace Indian players with overseas signings has also raised concerns about competitive balance.
With IPL 2025 nearing its conclusion, discussions around rule amendments are expected to intensify before the next season.
