Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 have reached its penultimate stage with India cruising into the final after beating Australia by four wickets in the semi-finals on Tuesday, March 4 at DICS in Dubai. While they await their opponents for the final, the 18th edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) is also round the corner as it is scheduled to start from March 22 in Kolkata.
Days ahead of the tournament opener, which will see the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced some new rules, which will be implemented in the forthcoming season.
New IPL rules introduced: No family members in dressing room; BCCI mandates travel by team bus
After the strict action was taken towards the national team by the Indian cricket board, the cash-rich league has also been influenced by similar set of rules. With the tournament nearing, BCCI has tightened the regulations regarding family members’ presence and the teams’ practice sessions. Moreover, the BCCI has also made it mandatory for players to travel by team bus, a rule which the Indian team players have also been instructed to follow.
As per the new regulations, "Players to use the team bus while coming for practice. Teams may travel in two batches." Additionally, the statement also read, "Player family members and may friends travel in a different vehicle and can watch team practice from the hospitality area. For extended support staff (throw down specialist/net bowlers) list need to be submitted for approval to the BCCI. Once approved, non-match day accreditation will be issued for the same.” This implies that on practice days, only accredited staff is allowed in the dressing room and on the field of play.
The rules and regulations’ list does not end here. In a mail communicated to the franchises, it has also been imparted that fitness tests on players cannot be conducted on the main square during match days, along with adding stringent rules for practice during the course of the two-month long tournament.
As reported by Cricbuzz, the BCCI has also scheduled an in-person meeting with all the captain on March 20 at the Cricket Centre in Mumbai to elaborate the rules.
