The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly issued a strict directive to prepare batting-friendly pitches at all venues in IPL 2026. The move has made conditions more difficult for bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, as the flat surface reduces the effectiveness of the bowlers and provides assistance to the batsmen.
There was a time in the IPL when teams like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were considered almost unbeatable at home. The pitches often suited the home team’s strengths and a score around 180 was usually enough to win the match. However, in IPL 2026, home advantage has reduced significantly, with scores above 220 becoming common across all venues.
key points
- BCCI has reportedly instructed curators to prepare batting-friendly pitches in IPL 2026.
- The flat surface and short boundaries are making life difficult for bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah.
- Franchises reportedly no longer control pitch preparation at home venues.
BCCI issues strict batting-friendly pitch instructions for IPL 2026
According to a report in Times of India, BCCI has shared recommendations regarding pitch preparation for IPL 2026. The report said that the guidelines ask curators to prepare surfaces that offer very little support to both fast bowlers and spinners.
The report further states that the size of the limit should not exceed 77 meters at any place. With the aim of producing high-scoring matches for the spectators, the curators have also been instructed to maintain uniform grass coverage on the pitch to avoid dry surfaces and limit excessive seam movement or spin.
According to the report, the board has appointed a central curator at every venue to keep an eye on the local curators and prevent the involvement of franchises in pitch preparation. It also added that during the playoffs and finals, the BCCI Central Curator Panel will take complete control of the pitch operations at the host venue.
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Franchise officials claim uniform pitch policy has reduced strategic home advantage in IPL
A franchise official said that the new pitch policy has significantly changed the team’s strategies throughout the IPL. The report said teams can no longer rely on spin-friendly or seam-friendly home conditions to target opposition weaknesses.
“There are some teams who have a strong spin-bowling attack. They would prefer slightly slow and lazy pitches. Some teams have a very powerful seam attack and they prefer a little more help for the new-ball bowlers. But now every pitch is almost the same. It does not matter whether a team is traveling or not. Players expect similar conditions at all venues,” the source told TOI.
Another franchise source told the publication that the policy has also affected the batting approach. Batsmen now regularly expect flat pitches and bowlers have to struggle whenever they get even the slightest assistance from the surface.
“The batsmen go in with the expectation that the pitch will play true and flat. But whenever there is a little more purchase from the pitch for the bowlers, they struggle to adapt,” the source said.
There is a clear order from BCCI on IPL pitch policy – Hemang Badani
Hemang Badani Confirmed that IPL franchises currently have no control over pitch preparation at their home venues. The Delhi Capitals coach said that the BCCI manages the surfaces to ensure that no team gets home advantage.
“As much as one would like to think that we have control over the surface on which we want to play, the BCCI has a clear mandate that they take care of the surfaces and they are the ones who ensure that there is no local side that gets an advantage from the surfaces. So you play what is presented to you,” Badani said after Delhi Capitals’ defeat to Chennai Super Kings on Tuesday.
“And yes, it has been a bit of an ups and downs for us to understand what we are going to get in Delhi, which is our home. There has been a game where we scored 75. There was a game where we chased 265. Again, it was a surface that spun. Ideally, you want to have some consistency. It’s not about us. I think the whole competition is quite neutral that way,” he said.
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