For the final phase of IPL 2025, teams are now allowed to sign temporary replacement players, but these players cannot be retained before the next auction.
The IPL season is set to resume on Saturday, 17 May. It was earlier postponed due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Because of the change in schedule, some players faced conflicts with their prior commitments. Although most overseas players have returned to India, a few have opted out of the tournament. Notable among them are Jake Fraser-McGurk from Delhi Capitals and Jamie Overton from Chennai Super Kings.
New Rule on Replacements in IPL
Previously, IPL rules allowed teams to sign replacement players only if a player was injured or ill, and that too only until the 12th match of the season. However, with the new update, teams can now sign temporary replacements for the remainder of the season, regardless of injury status.
That said, any player signed as a temporary replacement after the league’s suspension will not be eligible for retention. They must re-register for the IPL 2026 auction if they wish to participate in the next season.
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Why the Rule Was Introduced
The IPL Governing Council introduced this rule to prevent franchises from bypassing the auction system by signing temporary players with the hidden intent to retain them later.
In an official note to the franchises, IPL authorities clarified that the rule has been updated to allow teams to field temporary replacements if a player is unavailable due to national duties, personal reasons, injury, or illness.
However, the condition remains: These temporary replacements cannot be retained next season and will need to go through the auction process.
Who Can Be Retained?
The IPL also confirmed that players who were signed as replacements before the suspension of the league can be retained for the next season. Four such players were signed within 48 hours before the suspension:
- Sediqullah Atal (Delhi Capitals)
- Mayank Agarwal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Rajasthan Royals)
- Nandre Burger (Rajasthan Royals)
These players are eligible for retention ahead of IPL 2026.
