IPL 2026: BCCI Plans Strict Crackdown on Team Hotel, Dressing Room and Bus Access
The BCCI plans to bring in stricter rules for IPL teams after worries about too many unauthorised people moving around with franchises during the 2026 season. The proposed clampdown is expected to affect access to team hotels, dressing rooms, buses and other restricted areas connected to players and support staff. Over the course of the tournament, several prominent Indian cricketers, including Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan and Arshdeep Singh, were frequently seen travelling or spending time with their rumoured partners around franchise setups.
Those appearances gradually became a subject of discussion within the board, particularly regarding adherence to anti-corruption protocols and accreditation procedures. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia acknowledged that the board had identified irregularities linked to team operations and movement during the season. According to him, concerns were raised after unauthorised individuals were seen entering spaces reserved strictly for players and officials.
BCCI Set to Tighten IPL Access Rules After Unauthorised Movement Concerns
The board is also worried about team owners and franchise officials going into restricted areas during matchdays and team travel.
“The BCCI and IPL are preparing an advisory, which we are going to release this evening. We have observed that many unauthorised persons are moving along with team members or travelling in team buses. Some unauthorised individuals are also entering hotels and visiting players' rooms or team officials' rooms, which is completely against our anti-corruption protocols. We have also noticed that some team owners and officials are mingling with players in areas where they are not permitted to be present,” Saikia told ANI.
The BCCI is now expected to quickly issue new rules to make sure all franchises follow stricter guidelines for the rest of the season.
“We have taken this very seriously. We are issuing an advisory, and it will be very strictly followed. If there is any violation hereinafter, then BCCI and IPL will take very stringent action,” he added.
While the full rules have not been announced yet, the new measures are expected to include stricter ID checks and tighter control over team movements. Only authorised people are likely to be allowed in player-only areas, team hotels and official travel groups. The board also appears concerned about how casually certain access rules were handled by franchises during IPL 2026. Television coverage and social media activity throughout the season repeatedly showed non-team members accompanying players in close proximity to official setups.
