Last Updated:
BCCI’s new IPL 2025 rules limit teams to seven pre-season practices and two warm-up games. No open nets or match-day practice allowed once the season starts.
BCCI has changed the rules for practice sessions. (Sportzpics Photo)
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly put in new rules to limit the pre-season practice sessions for all IPL teams ahead of the 2025 season. According to these, each team can have a maximum of seven practice sessions of three hours in duration in the lead-up to the season and two warm-up games while there won’t be any open nets or match-day practice allowed once the season begins.
According to Cricbuzz, these rules are being brought in to preserve the pitches to their prime condition for the tournament as they have already taken some load after the long domestic season. It comes only days after the board wrote to IPL ground authorities to not let them be used for any local or non-official league games.
“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 BCCI said in a note to the franchises, as per the report.
“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.”
“In order to prepare the pitch for the season, no practice sessions or practice matches may be played on the main square in the four (4) days leading up to the relevant franchisee’s first home match of the season. However, 1 side wicket per team will be provided for range hitting on these days. During this period, if requested by the home franchisee, the State Association.”
Additionally, the BCCI has devised a method for resolving ‘conflicts’ if both teams want to practice at the same time where the first step would be discussions between the two team’s managers. If a solution is not found, the BCCI will get involved after considering the requests of both teams.
Though even partially open nets won’t be allowed once the season begins, the BCCI will facilitate one wicket for each team for range hitting, run-ups, throwdown and other such practice needs.
