The IPL 2026 campaign has hit a new nerve as the league’s standard protocols come under scrutiny, following high-profile breaches in the Rajasthan Royals camp. First, team manager Romi Bhinder was reported to have used a phone while in the dugout during a match, and later captain Riyan Parag was seen vaping inside the dressing room. The BCCI moved to address both incidents by imposing fines on the individuals involved. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia had earlier indicated the board would tighten enforcement and introduce clearer dos and don’ts, and on Thursday night he followed through with an eight-page circular sent to all ten franchises.
Key takeaways
- BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia issued an eight-page advisory to all ten IPL franchises on Thursday night.
- The document lists protocol breaches flagged by the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit during IPL 2026 and asks franchises to remain alert.
- Teams are warned against “honey-trapping,” including unauthorised access to players’ hotel rooms without the team manager’s knowledge.
- Players and support staff must clear any departure from the team hotel with the SLO and/or TIO, with movement logs maintained.
- Owners are told not to communicate with or physically access players or staff in restricted areas during matches, beyond approved channels.
- Vaping and e-cigarette use is reiterated as prohibited at tournament venues, including dressing rooms, dugouts, hotels and practice sites.
BCCI’s fresh protocol advisory reaches all franchises
On Thursday night, Saikia released the eight-page directive covering Standard Operating Procedures expected throughout the tournament. Copies were circulated to every franchise, outlining the compliance expectations and spelling out how teams should respond to issues that have already surfaced during the season.
The advisory—presented in the document—details misconduct and protocol violations that the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption Unit has reported across IPL 2026. All ten franchises have been asked to exercise caution and treat the matter with full seriousness, with the aim of protecting the league’s image and maintaining disciplined conduct across stakeholders.
Opening the communication, Saikia wrote that the advisory was prompted by incidents observed during the ongoing season. He emphasised that the intention is to strengthen professionalism, discipline, security awareness and adherence to protocol for everyone connected to the IPL. He added that franchises should ensure complete compliance at all times in the larger interest of the competition and the sport.
Preamble: misconduct and violations could harm reputations
The preamble portion of the circular states that the BCCI has become aware of misconduct and breaches involving players, support staff and team officials during IPL 2026. It warns that if these incidents are not dealt with, they can cause significant reputational damage—to the tournament, to the franchise concerned, and to the BCCI as the governing body.
The document further notes that such actions can expose individuals and franchises to legal responsibility and security hazards of a serious nature. It also reiterates that the advisory is being issued immediately, outlining expected conduct and compliance standards for all personnel associated with IPL teams.
Franchise leadership is directed to ensure that the advisory’s contents are communicated to every member of the squad and support ecosystem and that the instructions are strictly followed without exception.
Warning on targeted honey-trapping
The BCCI’s notice includes a section focused on the potential risk of targeted “honey-trapping” during the tournament. It says the board has observed cases where certain players and support staff allowed unauthorised individuals to enter hotel rooms without the knowledge or approval of the relevant IPL team manager. In several situations, the team manager reportedly had no awareness of the presence of such visitors.
The advisory states that this practice is strictly banned with immediate effect. It also sets out how franchises must respond to any visits connected to players’ hotel rooms going forward.
Under the instructions, no person—regardless of identity, relationship to a team member, or claimed purpose—can be allowed into a player’s or support staff member’s hotel room unless the team manager has prior knowledge and has provided explicit written approval.
Guests and visitors must be entertained only in designated public hotel areas such as the lobby or reception lounge. The circular also clarifies that no guest should be escorted to private rooms unless the team manager has specifically authorised it in writing.
The BCCI highlights that targeted compromise and honey-trapping risks are well documented in high-profile sporting environments. It also stresses that incidents could lead to serious legal claims, including those related to sexual misconduct under applicable Indian law, and therefore franchises must remain vigilant and proactive in reducing such threats.
Unauthorised departures from team hotels
The advisory also addresses irregular departures from team hotels. It says the BCCI has taken note of players and support staff leaving hotels at unusual hours without informing the designated Security Liaison Officers (SLOs) or Team Integrity Officers (TIOs).
Teams are instructed that all players and support staff must inform and obtain clearance from the SLO and/or TIO before leaving the team hotel at any hour. The circular adds that any planned movement outside the hotel—whether personal, recreational, or for any other purpose—must be communicated to the team manager and the SLO well in advance of the intended departure.
It also directs that the SLO/TIO should keep a contemporaneous log of all team movements and that this record should be made available to the BCCI Operations Team whenever requested.
Instructions for owners and representatives
Another major part of the circular concerns reports that some owners did not follow Player and Match Officials Area (PMOA) protocols. The BCCI urges all team owners to avoid communicating with players and support staff during IPL games.
Saikia wrote that instances have been observed of franchise owners attempting to communicate with, approach, hug, or physically interact with players and team members during live match moments. The advisory states that even if such gestures are intended positively, they still violate established protocol and can disrupt team dynamics and match proceedings.
Owners and their representatives are now directed that they are prohibited from communicating with or physically accessing players or team officials in the dugout, dressing room, or playing area during matches. The only exception allowed is through designated and approved channels.
The circular also requires that any owner-level access to restricted zones must strictly follow PMOA protocol as communicated by the IPL Operations Division. It warns that any deviation will be treated as a serious violation.
Finally, franchise management is made responsible for ensuring owners and their associates are fully briefed on the relevant protocols before each match day.
No vaping and no prohibited substances
While Saikia’s written communication does not name Riyan Parag directly, the circular makes it clear that franchises must not allow the use of prohibited substances in team hotels or at stadiums. It reiterates that individuals found engaging in such conduct can face serious consequences.
The document states that incidents of vaping in dressing rooms and other restricted areas of tournament venues have come to the BCCI’s attention. It then underlines that vapes and electronic cigarettes are prohibited under applicable Indian law. As a result, anyone using such devices on tournament premises is not only breaching BCCI and IPL rules, but may also commit a cognisable offence under the applicable legal framework.
Accordingly, the advisory declares a strict ban on vapes, e-cigarettes and all prohibited substances within all IPL tournament venues. This includes dressing rooms, dugouts, team hotels and practice facilities. It adds that team management must ensure players and support staff are clearly informed of the prohibition and that no such substances are present at any team premises during the competition.
What teams must do immediately
The BCCI says the responsibility for ensuring compliance rests jointly and severally on the team manager and/or the authorised franchise representative. It also instructs team managers to deliver a mandatory team briefing within 48 hours of receiving the updated advisory and to obtain written acknowledgement from every player and support staff member confirming receipt and understanding of the directives.
The circular further asks franchises to put in place a guest approval system for all hotel visits. It requires written records of each approved guest to be maintained daily. In addition, teams must run a movement log in coordination with the SLO/TIO, documenting departures from and returns to the team hotel.
Checks, self-reporting and disciplinary consequences
The BCCI states it will run periodic checks on IPL teams to verify adherence to the latest directives. It also says that any breach must be self-reported to the IPL Operations Team or the appropriate IPL venue unit at the earliest possible time.
Saikia wrote that franchises should treat the advisory with the seriousness it demands and take the necessary steps to protect the integrity and reputation of the league. The notice also says franchises must follow the directives, and that any violation will be regarded as a serious disciplinary issue.
The board can issue show-cause notices and impose financial penalties on those who breach the rules. Saikia added that non-compliance can trigger proceedings under the applicable IPL Regulations, BCCI rules and regulations, and other relevant statutes depending on the circumstances.
He also reserved the BCCI’s right to conduct periodic audits and inspections to confirm compliance with the advisory’s instructions.
Without limiting the overall authority of the board, the circular lists possible outcomes that the BCCI or the IPL Governing Council may impose at their sole discretion. These include the issuance of a formal show-cause notice to the franchise and/or the relevant individual, financial penalties as prescribed under the IPL Regulations, and the suspension or disqualification of players, support staff or team officials from the ongoing or subsequent IPL seasons.
For legal breaches—such as violations involving prohibited substances, breaches of security protocol, or conduct that amounts to harassment—the advisory says the matter may be referred to appropriate law enforcement authorities. It also notes that any other action the BCCI or IPL Governing Council considers suitable in the best interest of the tournament and the sport can be taken.
