BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has issued new guidelines ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The main objective of the board’s guidelines is to keep the main pitch as safe as possible before the main match. In order to keep the tracks in pristine condition, the governing body of Indian cricket has issued some advisories for every team participating in the league.
In a five-page release, the board has also issued guidelines for the practice session. It is clearly stated in the official announcement that if one team is followed by another team for practice, then the teams will have to arrange for separate nets for their training.
The same net will not be allowed for back-to-back practice sessions of different teams
“Each team must be provided with fresh nets for their allotted practice session. In any situation of a simultaneous practice session or when one team practices after the other, the first team will not be allowed to use the other team’s net (including throw downs). If a team finishes practice early, the other team is not allowed to use its range-hitting wicket”, reads part of the guidelines.
To keep players ready for the upcoming match, teams often arrange practice matches. Now the franchises will have to arrange practice matches as per the latest notification of BCCI.
Practice matches will not be allowed inside the main concourse of the ground: BCCI guidelines
The board has mentioned that the teams are allowed to arrange practice matches on only one side wicket of the main intersection, after taking permission from the authority. A team will be allowed to arrange a maximum of two practice matches. At the same time, if any team wants to play its practice match under lights, then it will have to complete it within three and a half hours.
“In order to prepare the pitches for the season, no practice session or practice match can be played on the main pitch in the four days before the first home match of the season of the respective franchise,” the BCCI notice said.
It also says, “During this period, if requested by the domestic franchises, the state association must make available alternative practice grounds at no cost to the franchises.”
Before the match, the home team will have an edge over the foreign team.
The board also said that the home team will have some advantages over the visiting teams. However, requests from visiting parties will be taken seriously.
The BCCI says, “Although the home team should get first choice for the preferred session, the away team’s request will be taken into account, especially if it has played a match on the previous day, and the away team’s travel arrangements will be taken into account.”
According to the guidelines, “If domestic and foreign teams wish to practice at the same time, the BCCI will ask both team managers to try and resolve double booking – either with one of the teams taking the second session or with both teams sharing the session”.
Read More: No Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle! Former Indian wicketkeeper picks Rohit Sharma as the best T20 batsman of all time