The BCCI is reportedly concerned about the way some IPL 2026 players have been publicly appearing with their girlfriends, and it is preparing to introduce a crackdown on what it calls “girlfriend culture” in the T20 league. The development comes after several top names were seen moving around with rumoured partners during the ongoing season, raising questions about discipline, privacy and the potential for off-field complications.
Key takeaways
- Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan and Arshdeep Singh are among the players reportedly seen travelling with rumoured partners in team transport and staying in team hotels.
- The board is drafting measures to curb “girlfriend culture”, warning that the trend could escalate into a bigger problem if it continues.
- Concerns have also been raised about certain partners’ influencer presence, including claims that some have previously promoted betting-related apps on social media.
- BCCI officials say there have been instances of disputes involving players and partners, with police complaints in some cases affecting the league’s and board’s image.
- The BCCI plans to discuss the matter in its next meeting and expects ACU staff to follow updated stay and travel protocols.
BCCI’s reported concerns over travel, hotel stays and image risk
In the reported assessment, the BCCI has pointed to repeated public sightings of players travelling with rumoured girlfriends—often in the same team bus during IPL 2026—along with staying at the team’s hotels. The board’s worry is not only about maintaining uniform conduct, but also about the knock-on effect such arrangements can have on team operations and overall league discipline.
Alongside the logistical and behavioural angle, the board is said to be unsettled by the influencer status of some of these partners. There are also claims that a few individuals have previously promoted betting applications through social media platforms, which the BCCI views as an added reputational and integrity risk.
Another element highlighted in the discussion is the possibility of disputes spilling into public space. The report notes that, in recent years, disagreements involving some players and their partners have surfaced, and in some situations female acquaintances have lodged police complaints—an outcome that, it is feared, can stain the public perception of both the tournament and the governing body.
Official reaction and what the board is planning next
A senior BCCI official is reported to have warned that the issue cannot be allowed to grow. The official noted that team buses have reportedly been kept waiting while girlfriends were arranged, and that some partners were staying in the same hotels as the players.
The same official also claimed that Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) officers were reportedly permitting girlfriends to stay with players after being told they had been “officially announced partners.” The official questioned the origin of any such practice, stating that there is no girlfriend-specific provision in the BCCI’s official policy and that, under existing rules, only wives and family members are allowed within defined guidelines. The official further said the board needs to investigate who authorised the permission being applied in practice.
With several of the individuals described as social media influencers, the BCCI is also said to be concerned that sensitive information could be unintentionally shared or leaked—an eventuality that would threaten the sport’s integrity.
The BCCI is now expected to raise the subject in its next meeting and issue firm guidance to address “girlfriend culture” not just in the IPL, but also across Indian national team tours. Even though IPL franchises are privately run, the board reportedly intends to set a central rule that applies to all teams. Alongside the broader playing and conduct guidelines, the ACU is also expected to receive clear direction on stay and travel protocols going forward.
