IPL franchisees expressed interest in player loans and BCCI is likely to look into this idea. While trade-ins currently rule the IPL preseason, a players’ loan a la football may soon be introduced. IPL 2023 will see several clubs dealing with replacement players and player ailments, while others will have players warming the bench. Franchises in such a situation may look into the possibility of signing a substitute player to a temporary contract throughout the course of a season from another organisation. Although other T20 leagues have used temporary contracts before, the IPL has not altered its trade-in policy. But in the future, things could change.
Player loan: What is it?
In football, if a player is judged surplus to requirements, his parent club may loan him to another team on a short- or long-term contract. The player will return to his parent club when the loan period is through.
Instead of signing up an unauctioned or unsold player to fill in for an injured or unavailable player in the IPL, franchisees will be able to temporarily sign up a surplus player from another club.
For instance, the Gujarat Titans want a Kane Williamson substitute. They might contact the Mumbai Indians for Dewald Brevis rather than searching via the available players outside of the IPL. Brevis can temporarily join GT, as he won’t have a chance to play for MI until the team’s foreign batters are sorted. Another illustration is Quinton De Kock, who is warming the LSG bench as DC searches for a reliable goalie and opener.
Thoughts among franchises
Player loans will exist sooner or later, according to one of the franchise representatives. Loaning a player out is a smart move to do, given the injuries and extended IPL plans in place.
A franchise official stated that it’s a good suggestion, and if a team is in desperate need of a substitute and someone like Siddharth Kaul, Chetan Sakariya, or, let’s say, Quinton de Kock is warming the bench, it can prove beneficial.
Another franchise representative said that because of the agreement, lending out is not permitted.
BCCI’s stance
A senior BCCI official said that a player loan is not something they are presently talking about, but if a team brings it up, they may. He said that they are aware of the need to change with the times and that the loan of a player would be a wise move in that regard. He also added that surplus players might have an opportunity to shine rather than just warming the bench.
