For the forthcoming 2026–2027 domestic season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a number of important rule changes. This includes end-of-day play, more stringent no-ball judgments, and other things.
For bowling intentional front-foot no-balls or non-landing deliveries, a bowler will now be suspended for the rest of the duration of the game. For those deliveries, the bowler would have been suspended for that specific innings under the current regulations.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has proposed the amendments, which the BCCI has distributed to all state associations.
"A bowler suspended for a deliberate front foot no-ball cannot bowl in the whole match. But the change to the playing conditions (41.8) will be decided by the on-field umpires," the BCCI said in the circular, accessed by PTI.
Another notable regulation change concerns the day's conclusion, since the final over must now be completed even if a wicket falls in that over. Currently, the day's play ended if a wicket fell in the middle of the final over of the day.
However, the MCC and BCCI thought that Rule 12.5.2 needed to be altered since it "prevented teams from sending a new batter out late in the day."
Similarly, teams will no longer be authorized to declare or forfeit the final innings of a match (Rule 15.2), as the governing bodies believe "it was used for contrived results and bad for the game."
The head coach of a side will now be able to visit the field during drinks breaks during domestic one-day matches, as the ICC has recommended a regulation modification in this regard for international cricket.
Now the wicket-keepers will receive more breathing space in the proposed changes as their gloves need to be behind the stumps only at the time of delivery (Rule 27.3).
In the past, after the bowler began their run-up, the wicketkeepers had to make sure their gloves stayed behind the wicket. A few times in the past, the ball was declared a no-ball, or a stumping was declared invalid due to the law.
Ahead of the domestic season, the state associations have been educating umpires and match referees about the new regulations, beginning with the Duleep Trophy next month.
"There will be some awareness programs for officials, besides making the relevant parts of the circular available to them. We have good enough time to do all this as the domestic season is almost a month away," an official told PTI.
(PTI inputs)
