IPL 2025: BCCI to ban players for Mitchell Starc and Wanindu Hasaranga like act

The rules for the upcoming seasons of the Indian Premier League have been announced by the IPL governing council. In a huge development, the governing council has made some strict rules for the players opting out just before the start of the season.

Adding to this, the IPL governing council has made it clear that the controversial Impact player rule will not be scrapped and is here to stay. The IPL governing council met in Bengaluru on September 28 to decide all the regulations.

Also read: IPL 2025: Major retention policy details for mega auction revealed before BCCI's announcement

IPL takes strict action on players who opt out just before the season

The IPL has made it mandatory for overseas players to register for the mega auction. If the player does not register, then he won't be eligible to register in the next year's mini-auction.

"Any Overseas Player will have to register for the Big Auction. In case the overseas player doesn't register, then he will be ineligible to register in the following year’s player auction," the statement read according to IPL media advisory.

The IPL has also made it strict for the players to opt out just before the start of the season after getting picked at the auction. If a player opts out of the season just before the start (without any legitimate reasons or injuries), then he will be banned from taking part in the tournament and the auctions for the next two seasons.

"Any player who registers in the player auction and after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for 2 Seasons," the statement read.

The issue of players opting out just before the tournament was raised by all the ten franchises during the meeting with the IPL governing council in July. The team owners have complained that their plans are shattered at the last point of time by the late pullouts of overseas players.

As a result, the IPL governing council has decided to take the issue seriously and has made specific rules. The only exception in this case will be for a medical condition, which will have to be specified by the player's home board.

IPL takes a final decision on the Impact Player rule

The IPL governing council has also announced a final decision on the Impact Player rule, which has been controversial ever since its beginning. The governing council has stated that the Impact Player rule will not be scrapped and will stay for the next three seasons.

"The Impact Player Regulation will continue for the 2025 to 2027 cycle," the statement read.

The Impact Player rule has long been under the scanner with many influential cricketers like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Siraj speaking against the rule. But the governing council has decided to keep the rule for now as the majority were in favor of it to be retained.

Controversy over Impact Player rule

There has been wide debate over the rule and whether it is detrimental to Indian cricket since it is affecting the growth of allrounders. The issue was discussed with the franchises during the meeting in July.

The Impact Player rule allows a team to substitute a player between the match and field a specialist player according to the match situation. It allows the team to play an extra batter or bowler which gives the batters more freedom to express themselves.

Since the start of this rule, nine of the ten highest totals in IPL history have been recorded.