New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has introduced a new regulation for the Indian Premier League that limits the number of squad members allowed to move around the field during matches.
Under the revised playing conditions, only 16 players from each team will be permitted to enter the playing area or move between the boundary line and the LED advertising boards during a match. These 16 players include the playing eleven and five impact substitutes named in the matchday team sheet.
An IPL squad usually consists of 25 players. However, those not included among the designated 16 must now remain in the dugout throughout the game. They will also no longer be allowed to carry drinks onto the field or relay messages to players during play.
The move aims to streamline activity around the boundary area and ensure stricter control over personnel present near the field of play. Team managers have been informed that only the officially named players for a particular match can perform on field duties such as delivering drinks or assisting players between overs.
The regulation forms part of a broader set of updates introduced by the cricket board ahead of the 2026 season of the tournament. Along with the field access restriction, the governing body has also expanded its Anti Discrimination Code.
Under the updated code, players and match officials will remain subject to the rules for three months even after their contracts with the league expire. Any violation during this period may lead to disciplinary action, with penalties ranging from a four match suspension to a lifetime ban depending on the severity of the offence.
Another clarification relates to the use of the Decision Review System. The board has confirmed that television umpires will not automatically review additional aspects of a play unless specifically requested. For example, if a fielding side reviews a caught behind decision, the umpire will not check for a possible wide delivery if there is no evidence of contact with the bat.
These rule changes are intended to bring greater clarity and discipline to match operations as the league continues to evolve.
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