BCCI announces new guidelines for IPL 2026. Check details

The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to start on March 28, 2026. Ahead of the tournament’s commencement, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the new guidelines for the tournament. 

The BCCI has given strict instructions to all ten franchises for the tournament. According to a report, teams will not be permitted to practice on the match days. This regulation is intended to protect the wicket and pitch for the actual game.

The BCCI will provide each team with two nets in the practice area for range hitting and a side wicket on the main square. If both teams practice at the same place at the same time, they will each receive two wickets.

Teams are also not permitted to use their opponents' practice areas, even if they are available for sessions. These measures are meant to maintain equity and regulate pitch usage. Teams are also prohibited from testing players' fitness on game days.

The board also issued the guidelines regarding players’ families throughout the tournament. Players have been instructed to travel to the ground only via the team bus. In addition, families and friends are also not allowed to enter the field of play during training sessions. They may watch practice sessions only from designated hospitality areas. 

Players have also been reminded to adhere strictly to dress-code requirements. It will also be mandatory for the Orange and Purple cap holders to wear their caps during the post-match presentation. Furthermore, players have been reminded to carefully follow the dress code. During the post-match presentation ceremonies, the Orange and Purple Caps must be worn as instructed. Even players are not allowed to wear sleeveless t-shirts during the post-match presentation ceremony. If any players wear sleeveless t-shirts during the ceremony, first, they will be given a warning, whereas the second time, serious action can be taken.

The first match of the IPL 2026 will be played between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on March 28. At the moment, the BCCI announced the first 20 matches schedule of the tournament due to the assembly elections in various states of the country. In a couple of days, the rest of the tournament’s schedule will be announced.