The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) implemented significant new operational guidelines and auction rules for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, which began on March 28. These stricter rules affect team practices, player conduct, and financial strategies, including a cap of Rs 18 crore on overseas player salaries. The changes aim to enhance fairness and maintain discipline across the ten franchises.
Stricter Match Day and Practice Protocols
Teams face new restrictions on their activities during match days and practice sessions. The BCCI completely banned practice sessions on match days to preserve pitches and wickets for the actual games. Franchises cannot conduct fitness tests on the main square on match days either. These measures aim to maintain fairness and regulate pitch usage.[hindustantimes+9]
Access to practice areas is now tightly controlled. Only accredited team staff can enter dressing rooms and the field of play during training. Player family members and friends must watch practice from designated hospitality areas and travel in separate vehicles to the stadium. All players must travel by the team bus on match days, with no private vehicles allowed.[hindustantimes+9]
Teams receive two nets in the practice area and one side wicket on the main square for range hitting. At the Mumbai venue, if both teams practice simultaneously, each team gets two wickets. Open nets are no longer permitted. Teams cannot use practice wickets assigned to opponents, even if they are empty. The main square also remains off-limits for four days before a franchise's first home game to allow pitch preparation. Practice matches held under lights are now capped at three and a half hours.[hindustantimes+11]
New Guidelines for Player Conduct and Dress Code
The BCCI introduced specific rules for player conduct and attire. Players holding the Orange Cap and Purple Cap must wear them for the first two overs of a match or until the broadcast captures it. This ensures visibility for the league's top performers.[hindustantimes+2]
During post-match presentations, players must adhere to a strict dress code. Sleeveless jerseys and floppy hats are prohibited. Violations will first result in a warning, followed by financial penalties for repeat offenses. Only 12 accredited support staff members, including the team doctor, are allowed in designated match-day areas, a rule carried over from the IPL 2025 season. Franchises also need to submit a list of their net bowlers and throwdown specialists for BCCI approval.[hindustantimes+7]
Key Auction and Retention Changes
The IPL 2026 mini-auction, held on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, brought significant financial and retention rules. Franchises had an auction purse of Rs 125 crore to build their squads. The overall total salary cap for the 2026 season, which includes the auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees, is set at Rs 151 crore.[timesofindia+8]
Teams faced no limit on the number of players they could retain from their existing squad before the mini-auction, a departure from mega-auction rules. However, they still had to comply with a maximum squad size of 25 players and a limit of 8 overseas players. The deadline for submitting retention lists was November 15, 2025. A total of 173 players were retained ahead of the auction.[timesofindia+12]
A major change impacts overseas players' earnings. An overseas player's salary is capped at Rs 18 crore, even if their auction bid exceeds this amount. This cap is linked to the highest retention fee of an Indian player. Any money bid above this Rs 18 crore cap goes to the BCCI's player welfare fund, not to the player. For example, Cameron Green was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore but his contract will be capped at Rs 18 crore, with the excess going to the welfare fund.[zeenews+11]
New Player Registration and Trading Rules
The BCCI also introduced stricter rules for player registration and participation. Overseas players must register for the mega-auction; failing to do so makes them ineligible for the following year's auction. If a player registers for the auction and is picked but then makes themselves unavailable before the season begins, they face a two-season ban from the tournament and auction. Overseas players who skip the mega-auction are also barred from participating in mini-auctions.[iplt20+3]
The trading window for IPL teams opened on June 4, 2025, and closed on December 9, 2025, one week before the mini-auction. It reopened after the auction and will close one month before the start of the next season. Right to Match (RTM) cards were not available for franchises in the 2026 mini-auction.[timesofindia+3]
Impact Player Rule and Match Fees Continue
The Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute one player during a match, remains in effect for the 2025-2027 cycle. This rule offers tactical flexibility, letting captains adjust their playing XI based on match situations. However, a team can still only field a maximum of four overseas players on the field at any given time. An overseas player can only be used as an Impact Player if the team already has fewer than four overseas players in its starting XI.[iplt20+4]
For the first time in IPL history, a match fee of Rs 7.5 lakhs per match has been introduced for every playing member, including the Impact Player. This fee is in addition to their contracted amount. The IPL 2026 season features 10 teams, continuing the expanded format, with each team playing 16 league matches in a two-group system.[iplt20+3]
The new guidelines underscore the BCCI's commitment to maintaining competitive balance and high standards across the league, impacting everything from daily team operations to long-term squad building.
