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IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal shared his thoughts on cricketers using social media and the BCCI’s new regulations trying to restrict the players’ activities online.
Through the course of IPL 2026, many controversies have erupted across social media involving both players and teams. Some on-field incidents and “untoward” activities in the players’ hotels have been brought to the attention of the BCCI as well.
BCCI introduces new regulations amid IPL 2026
During the middle of IPL 2026, the BCCI issued a 7-page advisory to all the franchises outlining the procedures to be followed by all the teams and franchises.
Among other things, the BCCI warned players and franchises against potential honey-trapping and tried to curb the players’ girlfriends from travelling with the teams. Apart from this, the BCCI also wanted franchises to hold back on ‘reel culture’ and vlogging.
The advisory also mentioned that players should not leave their hotel rooms or bring unauthorised guests to their rooms without obtaining permission from the team manager.
The advisory had come after a few concerning incidents during the matches. Rajasthan Royals’ team manager Romi Bhinder was seen using a phone in the team dugout during a match. A few matches later, the team’s skipper, Riyan Parag, was seen lighting an e-cigarette in the dressing room even though vaping is illegal in India.
Similarly, the Punjab Kings have been struck with one off-field controversy after another. There have been rumours about the players being indisiciplined and an internal rift in the team. Pacer Arshdeep Singh was pulled up for his vlogging and was recently criticized on social media for making racist remarks.
“The new directives are reinforcements” – Arun Dhumal
IPL Governing Council Chairman Arun Dhumal spoke to India Today at the sidelines of the Punjab Kings versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru match at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. He said that while the board doesn’t really wish to control what players post on social media, they want to keep the integrity of the game intact.
“Most of the things that happen on social media, one cannot always be sure about the authenticity or how true they are. But whatever we need to do in terms of keeping the integrity of the game intact, we do our level best. There is much more that comes into the media than what actually is, so you have to take it with a pinch of salt,” he said.
He was also asked about the BCCI’s new advisory, and said that it was a reminder rather than a new policy altogether. He said that some small incidents have harmed the integrity of the game, and the BCCI just wanted to reinforce the standards that both teams and players should adhere to.
“That is a regular directive that has been there for sure, but given those small scenes that took place, we thought we could reinforce those. I’m very confident that franchises know their responsibilities very clearly, and they adhere to that because it is not that the BCCI would only get affected if the tournament gets affected; it would affect everyone.
“All of them are very responsible, and they know that for sure. So it’s always a collective effort of BCCI and all the franchises wherein we make sure that the integrity of the game is respected and the quality of games is maintained,” he added.
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Dhumal then went on to talk about his thoughts on social media and how it affects all involved.
“Social media, I would say, is the most anti-social thing. So I’m personally not in favour of social media. I do believe there has to be a lot of socialisation as players and as individuals, but unfortunately, I deem it as the most anti-social thing,” he continued.
He was then asked whether a policy would be made asking players not to use social media at all, especially during the IPL.
“No, people would eventually understand. People get the fancy of this thing for some time, but eventually, you understand that it is the real human values and human relationships that matter. And more in terms of the kind of technological intervention that we are having, the core human values would be the most premium,” he replied.
