New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued stern guidelines for all the 10 franchises ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The 19th edition of the cash-rich tournament will begin on March 28 to May 31, with reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beginning their campaign against Sunrises Hyderabad (SRH) in Bengaluru.
Among the stern guidelines, the Indian cricket board has instructed all the franchises that an IPL team cannot train on the same pitch that was used by a rival side during their net session, as per a report published in Cricbuzz. The latest guidelines say that the teams need to be given fresh pitches if they are practicing one after the other.
BCCI issues strict guidelines
The report clearly mentions the BCCI directive saying that: ‘Fresh nets should be provided to each team for their allocated practice session. In any event of simultaneous practice sessions, or when one team practices after the other, the first team shall not be permitted to use the other team’s nets (including for throw-downs). If one team finishes practice early, the other team is not permitted to use their range-hitting wicket.’
It is also mentioned under the BCCI directives that if a team intends to play a practice match in the evening under the lights, the duration of the match should not exceed three and a half hours. All the franchises can have a maximum of two practice matches but they need to communicate the Indian cricket board first and these games cannot take place on the pitch that will be used for the match.
In addition, it is also mentioned that so as to prepare a pitch of the season, no practice sessions or matches may be played on the main square in the four days leading up to the relevant franchise’s first home match of the season. During this period, if requested by the home franchise, the State Association should make an alternative practice ground available to the franchise at no cost.