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No Practice On IPL Match Days! BCCI Restricts Franchises' Freedom Ahead Of 2025 Season

Aashay Chopade

Virat Kohli with umpire during IPL 2024 (Source:IPLT20.com)Virat Kohli with umpire during IPL 2024 (Source:IPLT20.com)

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to kickstart on March 22 and BCCI has now devised some new strict rules for the franchises. The new rules are in line with the directive for IPL centres few days ago. BCCI had told instructed the IPL centres to not lend their ground for any local games, legends league or celebrity tournaments.

BCCI Designs Strict Rules For IPL Franchises

Now, BCCI has restricted practice sessions to maximum of seven with the duration of practice under floodlights to be three hours. Out of those seven practice sessions, two can be practice matches or open nets session according to the requirement of the team.

Also, no practice matches or practice session can take place on main square, four days leading to the first home game of the franchise. However, teams can use the side wickets for range hitting on these days. Also, no practice will be allowed on match days and open nets will not be allowed.

"In advance of the first match of the season and as set out in the Stadium Agreement, teams may have up to seven (7) practice sessions of up to three (3) hours in duration under floodlights, of which two (2) can be practice matches or open nets as decided by the team. The practice matches to take place on one of the side wickets of the main square. If a team is playing a practice match under lights, the duration of the match should not exceed more than three and a half hours. As per the Operational Rules, practice matches require the prior written approval of the BCCI."


"In order to prepare the pitch for the season, no practice sessions or practice matches may be played on the main square in the four (4) days leading up to the relevant franchisee's first home match of the season. However, 1 side wicket per team will be provided for range hitting on these days. During this period, if requested by the home franchisee, the State Association." 

BCCI has also devised a plan for conflict resolution while there are some interesting rules in place for practice during the tournament.

"In the event that the home and away teams wish to practice at the same time, BCCI will ask the two Team Managers to try and resolve the double booking - either by one of the teams taking another session or by the two teams sharing the session. In the event that the two teams cannot resolve the double booking, BCCI will determine the practice times having considered the requests of both teams with the likely outcome that two 2 hour slots are created thereby giving both teams similar playing conditions with exclusive use of the ground (e.g. 18.00 - 20.00 & 20.00 - 22.00)."


"Please note that requests for open or partially open nets will not be entertained. Additionally, the nets must be open towards the non-pavilion side to prevent injuries. In the interest of safety, no one other than players, team support staff and net bowlers will be on the Field of Play during this time."

The rules have been put in place to keep the wickets fresh and avoid any damage to the pitches for the important tournament like IPL.