The Indian Premier League is back on track after its sudden pause. But before the action resumes this Saturday, the BCCI has brought in a rule shift — temporary replacement players are allowed, though not without strings attached. In a memo to franchises, the league said, “Given the non-availability of certain foreign players due to national commitments or personal reasons or any injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament.” It further clarified, “This decision is subject to the condition that the Temporary Replacement players taken from this point forward will not be eligible for retention in the following year. Temporary Replacement players will have to register for the IPL Player Auction 2026.” The adjustment comes after the tournament was halted due to heightened India-Pakistan tensions. That unexpected break led to a calendar crunch, and some overseas players — committed to national duty or recovering from injuries — have opted out of the second leg. Previously, the IPL allowed teams to rope in replacements only due to injury or illness — and only until their 12th league game. Now, with the rearranged fixtures, that window has been extended. But to stop franchises from skirting the auction and locking in talent cheaply, the board has imposed a strict no-retention clause. Read also: Virat Kohli's Test Retirement Wasn’t Voluntary? Claims Report No long-term contracts for latecomers Franchises can now patch their squads, but anyone signed after the suspension won’t be part of next season’s retention list. The BCCI’s message is clear — fill your gaps, but don’t treat replacements as a backdoor to future planning. This rule aims to keep the auction system intact and competitive, ensuring all players enter the next cycle on an even footing. However, players signed before the break remain unaffected by the rule. That includes Sediqullah Atal (Delhi Capitals), Mayank Agarwal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and the Rajasthan Royals duo — Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Nandre Burger. These four are eligible for retention ahead of IPL 2026. Among those who’ve officially withdrawn are Jake Fraser-McGurk (Delhi Capitals) and Jamie Overton (Chennai Super Kings), leaving their teams searching for short-term solutions — with long-term limits.