The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shared a new set of guidelines with the 10 IPL franchises ahead of the 2026 season, starting March 28.

Notable among them is the instruction to players to use the official team bus for practice sessions. Families of players need to travel separately and can watch training from hospitality areas.

Players are forbidden from wearing "floppies and sleeveless jerseys" in post-match presentations. A first-time violation will result in a warning, while the second breach will lead to a financial penalty.

The board has mandated that current holders of the Orange Cap (leading run-scorer) and Purple Cap (leading wicket-taker) must wear their designated headgear for at least the first two overs of every match until the broadcast captures it.

The BCCI has also introduced several other rules for the practice sessions:

• Each team will get two nets in the practice area and one of the side wickets on the main square to do range hitting.
• At the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, if both teams are practicing at the same time, they will get 2 wickets each.
• If one of the teams finishes their training early, other team is not allowed to use the wickets for their practice.
• No open nets will be allowed.
• No practice will be allowed on match days.
• No fitness test will take place on the main square on match days.

As part of the BCCI's updated guidelines, teams are mandated to inform 24 hours in advance if there is a change in a player's jersey number.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has announced the schedule for the first phase of the IPL 2026, covering the initial 20 matches from March 28 to April 12.

Due to upcoming state assembly elections, the schedule is being released in phases. The remaining fixtures will be unveiled once election dates are finalized.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the tournament opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.