The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has implemented new rules restricting the number of practice sessions for clubs in an effort to guarantee the best possible pitches and grounds for the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. According to the most recent guidelines, each team will only be permitted seven practice sessions prior to their first game, including no more than two center wicket or warm-up games. There were no such limitations in the earlier seasons.
According to a report, the BCCI has taken this action to protect the playing fields at all locations, avoiding undue deterioration before to the start of the competition. After realizing that a previous mandate forbade IPL locations from holding celebrity matches, legends leagues, or local games prior to the tournament, the decision was taken.
The BCCI’s notice to franchises states that the teams are permitted to practice under floodlights for up to seven three-hour sessions. Two of these sessions may be open nets or practice matches, as long as they are held on one of the main square’s side wickets. Furthermore, any practice match played under lights must have previous written BCCI consent and cannot last longer than three and a half hours.
BCCI develops a method for resolving disputes.
In addition, no club will be permitted to practice on the main plaza for four days prior to their first home game in order to aid in pitch preparation. Nonetheless, during this time, each team will have access to one side-wicket for range hitting practice. The updated rules help alleviate the strain that the ongoing domestic matches before the IPL season are placing on venues.
Conflicts could occur if both teams want to practice at the same time under these new limitations. The BCCI has developed a conflict resolution process to solve this, enabling team management to work out a compromise. The board will intervene and give each team two-hour slots if an agreement cannot be reached, guaranteeing that both teams have equitable practice conditions and exclusive access to the field.
With one wicket set up at the far edge on each side of the big square, teams will have specific spots for range hitting. Bowling, hitting, and other drills can be done in these places. Additionally, only players, support personnel, and net bowlers will be allowed access, and open nets will not be allowed. Strict safety precautions will also be implemented.
If both teams practice at the Mumbai location at the same time, they will each take two wickets. Furthermore, teams are not permitted to prolong their practices beyond the allocated period, and no practice will be permitted on match days.
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