The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has tightened yet another set of match-day rules for IPL franchises, specifically targeting how players listed on the bench can move during games. Under the newest update to regulations, anyone not named among the 16 players on the official team sheet will be barred from stepping onto the field of play, even for routine tasks such as bringing drinks, carrying bats, or delivering messages.
The change is part of a broader tightening of IPL operating procedures this season and has reportedly been shared with teams in recent communication. As outlined in the updated directive, only the players included in the match’s 16-player list are permitted to perform on-field substitute-related responsibilities. Even for those outside the playing XI, the BCCI has now imposed strict limits on movement near the boundary area.
Boundary movement curtailed to five in bibs
- Teams have been told that at any point during a match, no more than five players wearing bibs may be stationed around the boundary rope.
- This permitted group can include players from the nominated 16-player list as well as other squad members, but the total number on boundary duty cannot go beyond five at a time.
- Other members of the squad may remain in the dugout, but they are not allowed to travel through the corridor between the boundary line and the LED advertising boards.
Reports also indicate that the latest restriction is linked to existing clauses within the IPL Match Playing Conditions. One relevant clause, 11.5.2, governs how drinks can be delivered to players on the field, requiring that such movement is completed promptly and in correct cricket attire. Another clause, 24.1.4, addresses squad members who are not part of the playing XI or who are not functioning as substitute fielders, instructing them to wear training bibs while on the playing area—explicitly including the space between the boundary and the perimeter fencing.
Team sources have further clarified the practical impact of the new rule, stating that they were informed recently that substitutes would not be allowed to roam during the match and would also be prevented from carrying drinks onto the field. The same communication, they said, makes it clear that only the 16 individuals named for the match can carry out those responsibilities, and that only five players beyond the playing XI are permitted to move around. The remaining players, sources added, can stay seated in the dugout but cannot move between the boundary line and the LED advertising boards.
This development aligns with a wider pattern of stricter enforcement seen across the IPL this season. In previous weeks, franchises were also briefed on additional operational controls related to match-day practice access, movement restrictions around training zones, limits on how support staff can circulate, and more rigid presentation requirements. The latest step, therefore, appears aimed at standardising the match environment by narrowing both who is allowed close to the field of play and when.
For teams, the immediate effect is reduced flexibility at the boundary during live action. For the IPL as a whole, it signals that match-day conduct and on-ground operations are being regulated more tightly than in earlier editions.
