Uttar Pradesh’s left-arm spinner Shivam Sharma has been brought into the team’s playing eleven as a Serious Injury Replacement for all-rounder Prashant Veer, who suffered a shoulder injury during the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match. Veer, who was the highest bid uncapped player in last year’s IPL auction at Rs 14.2 crore by Chennai Super Kings, is anticipated to be out for a minimum of three weeks. This marks only the second time the Serious Injury Replacement rule has been utilized in the Ranji Trophy this season.
Shivam Sharma has bowled 18 overs in the match, giving away 66 runs and capturing the crucial wicket of centurion Kumar Kushagra. The recovery timeline for Veer’s injury will be a concern for Chennai Super Kings, with the IPL 2026 set to commence on March 26. In a previous instance in October 2025, Bengal’s Kazi Junaid Saifi had replaced an injured player during a Ranji Trophy fixture, becoming the first player to do so under this new rule.
The Serious Injury Replacement rule was initially implemented in the Duleep Trophy, with Saurashtra’s Harvik Desai being replaced by Maharashtra’s Saurabh Nawale. Meanwhile, Jharkhand is dominating the ongoing match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on day two. This game holds significance for both teams in their quest for a spot in the Ranji Trophy knockouts, especially after strong performances by Sharandeep Singh and Kushagra.
