BCCI Sets New Restrictions for IPL 2025 Teams: ‘No Practice…’

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has imposed new curbs on practice sessions for Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises before the next season. Seven practice sessions and only two warm-up matches can be conducted by each team.

This announcement, made by way of a formal BCCI note, also directs host grounds to provide infrastructures for local matches, legends leagues, or celebrity tournaments.

Venue Load Named as Major Reason

A report by Cricbuzz says these steps were taken “in view of the venues taking load during domestic matches, being played close to the start of the IPL season.” The 2024 IPL season will kick off on March 22 at Eden Gardens, where Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Official Practice Session Guidelines

The BCCI note says:

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.”

Additionally, no practice sessions or warm-up matches will be permitted on the main pitch in the four days leading up to a franchise’s first home match. However, teams will be allowed to use one side wicket per team for range hitting during this period.

Practice Slot Conflict Guidelines

The BCCI note also speaks about possible scheduling conflicts if both teams wish to practice at the same time prior to their IPL match.

“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).”

These new restrictions aim to ensure venue readiness while maintaining fair access for all IPL teams ahead of the season.