A reserve player in cricket is a backup player selected for a team but not part of the playing XI. They can replace injured or unavailable players during the match or tournament.
Cricket: More Than Just a Game
Cricket is more than just a sport; in India, it is almost a religion. As one of the most popular games in the country, cricket is followed passionately by both the old and the young. However, the game is not easy to fully grasp. With its many complicated rules and regulations, those unfamiliar with cricket can often feel overwhelmed.
From understanding the different types of dismissals to deciphering the meaning of LBW (Leg Before Wicket), cricket has its fair share of complexities that can confuse newcomers. Even seasoned fans, who pride themselves on knowing the ins and outs of the game, sometimes encounter terms they are unfamiliar with.
One such term gaining attention among cricket fans is “reserve player.” This term became a topic of conversation after India announced its 15-member squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, along with the addition of four extra players—Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan—who were named as traveling reserves. This has led many fans to question the role and significance of these reserve players.
With that in mind, let’s explore what the term “reserve player” means in cricket.
Reserve player meaning in cricket
Put simply, a reserve player in cricket means a player who is on standby to replace a member of the original squad if they pick up an injury or are deemed to have lost form and as a result produces poor performances.
While this is the most obvious and standard definition of what the reserve player meaning in cricket stands for, it’s worth noting that there can also be other interpretations of the term in sport.
Reserve players, in fact, can have versatile roles in the squad. When travelling with a squad and even if he’s not roped into the main team, reserve players can perform the role of net bowlers and aid the overall practice of the team.
In essence, cricket is a game for two teams of 14 players each when considering both sides have three additional reserve players who can replace players from the playing XI in the fielding department.
These reserve players though are generally a part of the squad, unlike the case of Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, and Avesh Khan who are travelling reserves in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
The type of reserve players that are a part of different T20 World Cup 2024 squads are different from the standard reserve player mentioned above.
The travelling reserve players can do more than just be fielders and be roped in as replacements for members of the original playing squad if management decides to do so.
These types of reserve players are also known as standby players and can be expected to be summoned to perform a specific job for the team if the chance arises.
If a player from the main squad is injured during any tournament, one of the reserves or standbys can be called to the main squad on the basis of the team’s requirement following the approval and permission of a designated International Cricket Council (ICC) committee.
A couple of past examples of Indian players being used as reserve players during tournaments includes all-rounder Axar Patel and pace bowlers Deepak Chahar playing Asia Cup 2022 as replacements for the injured duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Avesh Khan.
Another example of a standby player being used by India was during the ODI World Cup 2019 in England when Rishabh Pant was drafted into the squad.