The IPL 2026 begins on March 28 with RCB v SRH in Bengaluru as the opening match.
According to a ruling by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), an IPL team is not permitted to train on the same pitch that the opposing team utilized during their net session.
As per the Cricbuzz report, fresh nets must be readied if one team practices after the other, per practice-session instructions that the board issued with the clubs prior to the season beginning on March 28.
"Fresh nets should be provided to each team for their allocated practice session. In any event of simultaneous practice sessions, or when one team practices after the other, the first team shall not be permitted to use the other team's nets (including for throw-downs). If one team finishes practice early, the other team is not permitted to use their range-hitting wicket. If a team intends to play a practice match under lights, the duration of the match should not exceed three and a half hours,” the Cricbuzz report stated.
Teams can conduct up to two practice matches, but they must notify the BCCI first, and these games cannot be played on the surface that will be used for the match.
"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 days leading up to the relevant franchise's first home match of the season. During this period, if requested by the home franchise, the State Association should make an alternative practice ground available to the franchise at no cost,” the BCCI guidelines stated.
The two teams will be given two nets for practice and one on the main square for range hitting. In the event of a scheduling conflict, the BCCI has said that it will give preference to the visiting team.
"Though the home team should get the first choice of a preferred session, the away team's request will be taken into account, particularly if it has played a match on the previous day, and taking into consideration the travel arrangements of the away team,” the directives said.
The BCCI will intervene in the event of a clash over practice sessions.
"In the event that the home and away teams wish to practice at the same time, the BCCI will ask the two team managers to try and resolve the double booking—either by one of the teams taking another session or by the two teams sharing the session. In the event that the two teams cannot resolve the double booking, BCCI will determine the practice times, having considered the requests of both teams, with the likely outcome that two 2-hour slots are created, thereby giving both teams similar playing conditions with exclusive use of the ground,” the BCCI directive further noted.
(Cricbuzz report)