The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has surprised everyone by bringing a new set of rules for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday, March 23. The upcoming IPL 2026 is all set to kick off on March 28 with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the season opener in Bengaluru.
However, the BCCI has announced the schedule only for the first 20 matches of the 2026 season from March 28 to April 12 to avoid logistical and security conflicts with assembly elections in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. Another reason is to give enough time to the ground staff to prepare pitches for the IPL after they were used in the T20 World Cup 2026.
BCCI introduces fresh rules for the IPL 2026
Well, just days before the IPL 2026 begins, the BCCI announced that all ten participating franchises will not be allowed to do full practice sessions on match days anymore.
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Instead, they will get only two nets in the practice area and one small space on the main square for range-hitting. For example, if both teams come for training together at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, each side will get just two wickets to work with.
Strict new training rules for all venues
Additionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has also sent a long list of dos and don’ts to all teams, as reported by The Times of India on Tuesday.
The BCCI has made it clear to all the teams that the open nets will not be allowed, and even if one team finishes its practice early, the other team still cannot use its allotted wickets.
Interestingly, the BCCI also banned the fitness tests on the main square on match days.
Tough travel and family rules
On normal practice days, players must travel in the team bus, although they can split into two groups. In another strong move, family members are not allowed to travel with the players anymore.
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From now on, they must come separately and can watch only from the hospitality zone. For the players’ shock ahead of the upcoming season, the match-day instructions are even more strict.
Match-Day instructions and dress code
The BCCI has asked the players to try not to hit balls towards the LED boards. Players and support staff are not allowed to sit in front of LED boards. Substitutes will have fixed seating areas with towels and water ready in the upcoming season of the world’s biggest T20 extravaganza.
And most importantly, the BCCI made it mandatory for the Orange and Purple Cap winners to wear their caps, at least for the first two overs, so broadcasters could easily spot them.
The board has also banned the sleeveless jerseys and flip-flops completely for the post-match presentation. If players fail to comply with this rule, they first get a warning, and if they repeat the mistake, they will face a fine.
IPL 2026 – Do’s & Don’ts (Match & Practice Rules)
| Category | Rule (Short) |
|---|---|
| Practice | No open net sessions allowed |
| Practice | Fixed wickets per team; no sharing if one finishes early |
| Match Day | No fitness drills on main square |
| Travel | Team bus travel mandatory (can split in batches) |
| Travel | Players travel separately from family |
| Practice | Avoid hitting balls onto LED boards |
| Dugout | No sitting in front of LED boards |
| Broadcast | Wear caps (orange/purple) for visibility |
| Presentation | No sleeveless jerseys or slippers |
| Discipline | Dress code violations lead to warning/penalty |
