 "Jaipur's Sawai Mansingh Stadium, the home of Rajasthan Royals. Image: IPL")
In a move aimed at preserving the quality of pitches and outfields for the upcoming 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a strict directive to state cricket associations with IPL venues. The directive warns against allowing any franchises to use the outfield for purposes other than official matches before the tournament begins.
BCCI warns state associations ahead of IPL 2025
As several IPL franchises were reportedly planning to use these grounds for practice sessions, the BCCI has decided to enforce tighter regulations to maintain the venues in optimal condition ahead of the cash-rich league. The board emphasised that while Ranji Trophy knockout matches could still be scheduled at these venues, other events such as Legends League Cricket, private celebrity matches, and local cricket will be prohibited.
“We would like to clarify the following regarding the usage of grounds before the IPL,” a BCCI mail sent on Friday to all IPL centres stated, according to a Cricbuzz report.
The key points in the BCCI’s directive are as follows
“The main square and outfield may be used for Ranji Trophy knockout matches, should they be scheduled at the respective venue.”
“Under no circumstances can the main square and outfield be used for local matches, Legends League, celebrity cricket, or provided to IPL franchises for practice sessions.”
This directive is part of the BCCI’s larger effort to ensure that pitches and outfields remain in peak condition for the high-profile IPL 2025 matches.
According to the report, the letter has been sent to various state cricket associations managing IPL venues, including the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA), Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA), Punjab Cricket Association (PCA), and Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA).
Additionally, venues like Guwahati and Dharamsala, which have hosted IPL matches for franchises such as Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings, are also included in the directive. It is believed that the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) and Assam Cricket Association (ACA) may have also received the letter.