BCCI bars Vaibhav Suryavanshi like players from playing in IPL

In a surprising yet game-changing move, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that under-16 cricketers must now play at least one first-class match before being allowed to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or any other T20 league in the country.

The decision was taken during the BCCI Annual General Meeting on Sunday, September 28, to ensure that young Indian players gain proper experience in domestic cricket before stepping into the fast-paced and high-pressure T20 arena.

BCCI makes first-class match mandatory for U-16 cricketers to enter the IPL world

Previously, IPL franchises had full freedom to pick U-16 or Under-19 players based on trials, auctions, or mid-season signings, with no rules about prior experience in domestic cricket. Young guns like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mhatre have already made waves in IPL 2025 as teenagers.

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But now the young prodigies will need the first-class experience before stepping into the T20 arena. The BCCI wants to make sure that the youngsters are better prepared, giving them exposure to red-ball cricket and enhancing their maturity before facing the glamour and intensity of the IPL.

A Revsportz report suggested, “The BCCI AGM takes the decision that junior cricketers, up to U-16 level, won't be allowed to play T20s unless they have played at least one first-class game.”

The BCCI AGM takes the decision that junior cricketers, up to U-16 level, won't be allowed to play T20s unless they have played at least one first-class game. #BCCIAGM

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) September 28, 2025

Mithun Manhas elected as BCCI President at AGM in Mumbai

Meanwhile, Mithun Manhas has been appointed as the new president of the BCCI after the Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on Sunday. Manhas takes over from Roger Binny and becomes the third former Indian cricketer in a row to head the BCCI.

Manhas previously served as Director of Cricket for the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association. On the other hand, Rajeev Shukla and Devajit Saikia were retained as the BCCI vice-president and secretary, respectively, while Prabhtej Singh Bhatia joined the board as the joint secretary.

Raghuram Bhat will handle finances as treasurer. The Indian cricket board also strengthened governance with Jaydev Niranjan Shah as the Apex Council member, while Arun Singh Dhumal and M. Khairul Jamal Majumdar joined the Governing Council.

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It’s a proud moment for all of us: Parvez Rasool

Speaking on Mithun Manhas’ appointment, Parvez Rasool was quoted as saying by RevSportz, “It’s a proud moment for all of us that Jammu and Kashmir’s representation is going to the BCCI as its president, and that’s a big achievement for us.”

He added, “We hope that in the future, the cricket infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir will be good. Right now, we are completely behind the other states. Talent-wise, we are good. But talent needs facilities. So, I hope that in the future, things will get better for us.”

Jayesh George named first-ever WCL Chairman

On the other hand, Jayesh George, president of the Kerala Cricket Association, has been appointed as the first-ever chairman of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) at the BCCI AGM. Former India players Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh join the senior national selection committee.

They replaced S. Sharath and Subroto Banerjee in the selection committee. Former Indian women’s cricketer Amita Sharma has been appointed as the chief selector for the Indian women’s cricket team.