New BCCI Regulations Tighten IPL 2026 Net Practice Protocols
Cricket Australia is abuzz with the recent introduction of stringent new regulations by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) concerning net practice sessions for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. These measures, rolled out just three weeks prior to the tournament’s commencement, aim to enhance the professionalism and efficiency of team preparation, building upon the more informal training patterns observed in prior years.
The BCCI’s official directive, issued on March 12, outlines a comprehensive set of rules for participating teams, along with penalties for non-compliance. This announcement comes as the IPL 2026 schedule has already revealed its initial two weeks of fixtures, with the full schedule to be released in stages due to upcoming election commitments.
Net practice has long been recognised as a cornerstone of team preparation in all formats of cricket, from the high-octane IPL to international fixtures. However, the BCCI significantly tightened its grip on these sessions in 2025, capping each team at a maximum of seven practice sessions before their inaugural match of the season.
Preserving Pitch Integrity: Key Tenets of the New Guidelines
A significant focus of the new regulations is the preservation of playing field quality. Teams are now prohibited from conducting open net sessions on the main playing square during their four practice days preceding their first home match. This directive is primarily designed to ensure the playing surface remains in optimal condition for competitive play.
This emphasis on pitch protection is particularly pertinent given the demands placed on Indian cricket venues. The IPL schedule often necessitates the completion of domestic cricket seasons before the league begins. This can lead to playing surfaces being heavily used and subsequently requiring extensive restoration, making the new restrictions a vital measure to safeguard their condition.
The latest guidelines, as reported, also introduce a conflict-resolution system to complement the strict rules. A key provision mandates that teams must utilise their designated practice areas and are forbidden from practising on a pitch that has been used by their opponent during a net session. Furthermore, ground staff are required to set up fresh nets whenever a different team is scheduled to use the field for practice.
Structured Sessions and Alternative Arrangements
The protocol also specifies a defined duration for net practice sessions. While teams require access to floodlight training, their net practice must conclude within a strict three-and-a-half-hour limit.
Recognising that practice on the main square is now restricted in most scenarios, the BCCI has put in place an alternative solution. State cricket associations are obligated to provide franchises with an alternative practice ground upon request, without levying any charges.
For the initial practice sessions leading up to a team’s first match, franchises will be granted access to two practice area nets and one net on the main square for range-hitting drills, commencing on March 16. The home team will have the prerogative to select their preferred practice time first, followed by the visiting team. In instances where IPL team managers and ground authorities cannot resolve scheduling disputes, the BCCI will step in to mediate. Should an agreement remain elusive, the board will allocate two separate two-hour practice sessions to each team, ensuring equitable playing conditions.
The official report suggests that the most probable outcome in such unresolved cases will be the division of the ground into two distinct two-hour slots, granting each team exclusive use of the facility.
Range-Hitting and Equal Opportunity
Teams will still have the liberty to conduct range-hitting drills freely within their allocated training periods. Ground staff will prepare one wicket at each end of the main square, extending to its full width, for each team. These wickets can be employed for a variety of training activities, including range hitting, bowling run-throughs, run-up practice, and throwdowns. The home team will also receive preferential access to these range-hitting facilities during the initial 90 minutes of the practice window.
The BCCI’s introduction of the “no-shared-nets” regulation is a deliberate effort to foster equal playing conditions for all teams throughout the tournament. In light of the challenges posed by pitch deterioration, which is exacerbated by the existing domestic match schedule, these new net practice prohibitions are expected to significantly contribute to maintaining superior pitch conditions throughout IPL 2026.
This rule is designed to uphold competitive fairness by compelling teams to establish their own practice nets, thereby preventing any team from gaining an advantage by utilising additional wickets left behind by their opponents after their practice sessions.
