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May 15, The Indian Premier League (IPL) has made a major change to its regulations, permitting temporary replacement players for the rest of the 2025 campaign.
IPL to Resume on May 17 With Final on June 3. However, several international players have opted not to return, citing personal reasons, national duties, or scheduling conflicts. Among the confirmed withdrawals are England's Jamie Overton (Chennai Super Kings) and Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals).
Overton, who featured in three matches this season for Chennai, has been named in England's squad for the three-match ODI series against West Indies beginning May 29. Fraser-McGurk, meanwhile, has withdrawn for personal reasons and will be replaced by Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman.
Other England players, including Jos Buttler (Gujarat Titans), Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians), and Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals), are also part of England's ODI squad for the West Indies series. Their continued presence in the IPL remains under review by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), depending on whether their franchises progress to the knockout stages, which begin May 29.
Notably, Sam Curran, another England all-rounder, has not been selected for the tour and is unlikely to return to the IPL either.
Also Check: England names five IPL players to ODI squad against West Indies
The IPL seasons of the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals will be held on May 25 and May 20, respectively, with both teams already eliminated from postseason contention. Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Gujarat are still in the running for the top four therefore their exits won't have an impact.
The replacements rule revision is especially important. After playing 12 league games, IPL teams were previously unable to sign replacement players. Prior to the ban, four teams had already exceeded this limit, which meant they were not permitted to add players in accordance with the previous rule.
The new temporary replacement policy, however, eliminates that limitation, enabling all teams-regardless of the number of games they have played-to bring in replacements for the remaining games. This adaptability is particularly important for teams who need to have a balanced roster after suffering an unanticipated loss of abroad players.
There is a caveat: temporary replacement players signed after the restart will not be eligible for retention in the next season's player draft. This ensures fairness in long-term planning while providing short-term relief for teams hit by withdrawals.
Several clubs have praised the IPL's move to amend the regulation, which helps maintain the tournament's final stretch's caliber and competitiveness. The rule adjustment guarantees that teams won't be shorthanded as the league approaches its climax, as several elite players may miss the playoffs.
