IPL 2026: BCCI May Tighten Rules on Player Relationships

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering stricter rules to address the growing trend of players’ girlfriends being present during IPL matches. Reports suggest that girlfriends of stars like Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Ishan Kishan have been seen traveling together in team buses and staying in hotels during tournaments.

According to a report by Dainik Jagran, BCCI officials are worried about partners accompanying players in official team environments. Some of these girlfriends are social media influencers with ties to betting app promotions, raising concerns about integrity.

A BCCI official stated that while there is no issue with wives or family members traveling with players, the presence of girlfriends is viewed more critically. Previously, girlfriends were not allowed to stay with players during IPL events, but this has now become a common practice.

When questioned by the BCCI about allowing “official girlfriends,” an Anti-Corruption Unit representative claimed that such a term was part of their instructions. This comes after India’s 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where the BCCI introduced a rule limiting players’ partners to accompany them for no more than two weeks during tours longer than 45 days.

However, implementing similar rules in IPL is challenging due to the involvement of 10 teams. Among the girlfriends are several influencers linked to betting websites, and some IPL players have faced police cases filed by their female companions, according to reports.