Follow UsIt was a historic day in Bengaluru as West Zone wicketkeeper Saurabh Nawale became the first-ever serious injury replacement in Indian domestic cricket. Nawale came in for the injured Harvik Desai, who sustained a quadricep injury against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2025 semi-final in Bengaluru.
Nawale, who plays with Ruturaj Gaikwad, not just for West Zone but also for Maharashtra, scored just nine off 39 deliveries in his only knock after coming in at three.
According to the latest BCCI rule, a team can opt for a like-for-like replacement in case of a serious injury to a player - something which is not implemented at the international level yet. Until now, only a concussion sub was allowed.
"If a player sustains a serious injury during the course of the relevant match, a Serious Injury Replacement may be permitted in the following circumstances. The serious injury must have been sustained during play and within the playing area described in clause 1.2.5.2. The injury must have occurred due to an external blow and result in fracture/deep cut/dislocation etc," the rule states.
"The injury should render the player unavailable for the remainder of the match. Identify the requested Serious Injury Replacement, who shall be a like-for-like replacement for the player who has sustained the serious injury."
There have been mixed reactions of whether it should apply in international cricket as well. Recently, we saw Rishabh Pant break his toe during the Lord's Test against England when a delivery from Chris Woakes hit him on the full. While he did not keep wickets, he was allowed to bat.
The BCCI, as a result, wasted no time in implementing the rule for the domestic season 2025-26, perhaps as a trial.