IPL 2026: BCCI announces strict ban on girlfriends, team owners after repeated protocol breaches

The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be entering its 50th match tonight. Ahead of the match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia will issue a strong notice against the “girlfriend culture” and for the owners in Indian cricket. Many cricketers’ girlfriends are often seen travelling with the team.

Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ishan Kishan have been spotted alongside their girlfriends during the IPL, travelling with the team and staying in hotels, and also the owners like Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow Super Giants, who looks the most animated when his franchise plays and enters restricted areas as well. Due to this, the BCCI is set to implement new, stricter rules.

BCCI and IPL are preparing an advisory- BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia says, "I would like to announce another thing. This time, we have noticed several anomalies and irregularities in the actions of a few franchises as well as some players. Therefore, the BCCI and IPL are preparing an advisory, which we are going to release this evening. We have observed that many unauthorized persons are moving along with team members or travelling in team buses."

"Some unauthorized 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."

Previously, it has been reported that there is no issue with wives and family members staying at the hotel with the players, but added that stricter measures may need to be taken regarding girlfriends.

MORE TO FOLLOW....

Also Read: England stun cricket world by appointing Australian Marcus North as new national selector