Cricket News / If a player gets injured, he will get a replacement; this new rule is coming in cricket

Cricket News: The injury suffered by Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant during the Test match between India and England in Manchester in July 2025 sparked a new debate in the cricket world. Pant was struck on the right leg on the very first day of the match and had to leave the field. Following this incident, calls for a football-like substitution rule to be implemented in cricket to allow injured players to be replaced. This demand now appears to be turning into reality, as Cricket Australia (CA) is set to begin trialing the injury substitution rule in the new season of its domestic first-class tournament, the Sheffield Shield.

New Rule in the Sheffield Shield

The Sheffield Shield tournament, which will begin on October 4, 2025, will feature six teams, and this new rule will be tested. This rule will be different from the current concussion substitution rule, which applies only to head injuries. Under the new rule, players can be replaced due to injury or illness, but this feature will only be available for the first two days of the match.

Key points of the rule

Applicable to the first two days: If a player is injured or falls ill during the first two days of the match, they can be replaced. This includes any type of injury, without any restrictions.

No replacements on the third and fourth days: If a player is injured on the third or fourth day, they will not be allowed to be replaced.

12-day break: A player replaced due to injury will not be allowed to participate in any cricketing activity for the next 12 days.

Role-specific replacements: Only players with the same role can be included in place of an injured player. For example, only a batsman can be replaced by a batsman, and only a fast bowler can be replaced by a fast bowler.

Opportunity for the opposing team

The most unique feature of this rule is that if a team replaces an injured player, the opposing team will also have the opportunity to make a tactical substitution. This means that the other team can also replace a player, but this replacement will be limited to the same role. For example, if one team replaces its injured fast bowler, the other team can also replace its fast bowler.

Need for Change in Cricket

Rishabh Pant's injury has once again highlighted the need for substitution rules in cricket. In a long format like Test cricket, where players spend many hours on the field, there is always a risk of injury. Such rules will not only ensure player safety but can also make the game more interesting.

Future Prospects

This trial by Cricket Australia is an important step that could be implemented in international cricket in the future. If this experiment is successful, the International Cricket Council (ICC) may consider implementing it in Test, ODI, and T20 formats. This rule will not only bring relief to the players but will also help in making the game more competitive and exciting.