Why were MI allowed to pick a replacement with higher base price?
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 is underway, and amidst the excitement of the tournament, a controversy surrounding the replacement of injured Afghanistan spinner Allah Ghazanfar by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a player with a higher base price, has raised several eyebrows. As per the rules, the base price of the new player should be lower than the price at which the injured player was sold. However, in this case, MI were allowed to pick Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a player with a base price of ₹2 crore, despite Ghazanfar’s base price being ₹75 lakh.
The incident has sparked a debate among cricket enthusiasts and experts, with many questioning the fairness of the rules. In this blog post, we will delve into the explanation behind MI’s ability to pick a replacement with a higher base price, as reported by Wisden India.
The Rules and Regulations
As per the IPL’s rules, when a player is injured during the tournament, the franchise is allowed to replace them with another player. The replacement player must be chosen from the remaining pool of players available in the auction. The base price of the new player should be lower than or equal to the price at which the injured player was sold.
In this case, Allah Ghazanfar was sold to MI for ₹4.8 crore, which is significantly higher than his base price of ₹75 lakh. According to the rules, MI should have chosen a replacement player with a base price of ₹75 lakh or lower. However, they were allowed to pick Mujeeb Ur Rahman, a player with a base price of ₹2 crore, which is higher than Ghazanfar’s base price.
The Exception
The reason behind MI’s ability to pick a replacement with a higher base price lies in the specific circumstances of the tournament. As per the IPL’s rules, if a player is injured during the tournament, the franchise can replace them with another player even if the new player’s base price is higher than the injured player’s base price.
The exception is made to provide flexibility to the franchises and to ensure that the tournament is completed without any disruptions. The IPL’s governing council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has the discretion to make exceptions to the rules in exceptional circumstances.
The Consequences
The decision to allow MI to pick a replacement with a higher base price has raised concerns about the fairness of the tournament. Some experts argue that it gives an unfair advantage to the franchise, as they can choose a player with a higher base price without having to adhere to the rules.
Moreover, the decision may also have an impact on the morale of the other franchises, who may feel that they are at a disadvantage due to the exception made for MI. The decision may also lead to a re-evaluation of the rules and regulations surrounding player replacements in the IPL.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding MI’s ability to pick a replacement with a higher base price has sparked a debate about the fairness of the IPL’s rules. While the exception made for MI provides flexibility and ensures that the tournament is completed without any disruptions, it may also have an impact on the fairness of the game.
As the IPL continues, it will be interesting to see how the governing council handles similar situations in the future. The controversy also highlights the need for a review of the rules and regulations surrounding player replacements, to ensure that the tournament is fair and competitive for all franchises.
Source:
