From Chris Gayle To Shaun Marsh: 5 Unforgettable IPL Replacement Players Who Became Legends

With Ruturaj Gaikwad ruled out of IPL 2025, the Chennai Super Kings have an opportunity to turn their season around with a strategic replacement. Over the years, several IPL franchises have turned last-minute injury replacements into match-winning assets—some even becoming legends of the tournament.

Here’s a look at five unforgettable replacement signings that reshaped IPL history:

1. Shardul Thakur (Lucknow Super Giants, IPL 2025)
From being a star Indian all-rounder to going unsold in the mega auction, Shardul Thakur’s IPL 2025 journey took a dramatic turn when Lucknow Super Giants signed him as a replacement for injured Mohsin Khan.

Thakur made an instant impact, taking two wickets in his very first over (dismissing Delhi Capitals’ Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abishek Porel). His consistent performances helped LSG’s depleted bowling attack, proving that sometimes, replacements become the backbone of a team.

2. Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2021)
Rajat Patidar was a little-known domestic player when RCB picked him as a replacement for injured Luvnith Sisodia. Little did anyone know he’d become a franchise legend.

Patidar announced himself with a stunning century against LSG in the Eliminator and has since been a mainstay in RCB’s lineup. His aggressive batting and calm leadership have made him a fan favorite, with many hoping he can finally end RCB’s title drought.

3. Phil Salt (Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2024)
When KKR signed Phil Salt as a replacement, few expected him to become one of the most destructive openers of the season.

Forming a deadly partnership with Sunil Narine, Salt smashed 435 runs in 12 matches, including a *brilliant 89 off 47 balls vs LSG**. Though he missed the final due to national duty, his explosive starts were crucial in KKR’s third IPL title win.

4. Shaun Marsh (Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2008)
The first-ever Orange Cap winner, Shaun Marsh, was actually a replacement for Simon Katich in IPL 2008.

Marsh dominated from his very first match (82 vs Deccan Chargers)* and finished the season with 616 runs in 11 games, including five fifties and a century against Rajasthan Royals. His heroics made him one of the greatest replacement success stories in IPL history.

5. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2011)
The biggest replacement steal of all time—Chris Gayle went unsold in the 2011 auction before RCB signed him as a replacement for injured Dirk Nannes.

Gayle responded with a century in his first match (vs KKR) and went on to win the Orange Cap (608 runs in 12 games). His brutal hitting and iconic sixes made him an RCB legend, proving that sometimes, the best deals happen by accident.