In fact, the BCCI is preparing to really limit what has been called the “girlfriend culture” in the 2026 IPL. More and more, they are concerned about secret information getting out and the tournament being honest. A report shows that stricter off-field rules are being discussed quickly due to how much impact social media has and the risks from promotions connected to betting.
Why BCCI is moving now
This season has already seen more tension about how things look and how disciplined players are. There have been incidents in the 2026 IPL – a Rajasthan Royals media manager was in the dugout, and Riyan Parag (the captain) was seen using a vape. Officials think they need to act strongly now, before a much bigger issue happens.
The board is especially cautious of partners who are popular on social media. Being so visible creates opportunities for money, and the chance that someone might accidentally reveal something from the hotel, the team bus, or just a casual chat. In a league where games are won by very little, even an accidental leak of information could be very harmful.
A shift from earlier norms
One unnamed official who was quoted in the report said that the topic will be talked about in the next BCCI meeting. He added that there isn’t a problem with players’ wives and family staying at the hotel with them, but they will have to be more careful about girlfriends.
The same official explained that things have changed from how they used to be. “We had this rule, and something must be done about the IPL too.” Previously, girlfriends weren’t allowed to stay in the same hotels as the players during the IPL, but now it’s become common.
What rules are on the table
The board is thinking about what to do for the IPL and for all cricket in the future, and they want all teams to have the same standards. Although the IPL teams are owned by individuals, they’re looking at a single set of rules to ensure a professional atmosphere in all the teams’ locker rooms.
Potential actions under discussion include:
– Tightening ACU regulations for stricter oversight
– Stopping girlfriends from travelling with players
– Applying rules to IPL and national team
– Implementing changes from the next season
ACU ambiguity becomes a flashpoint
The report included an interesting conversation. When a BCCI official mentioned this to a member of the Anti-Corruption Unit, the Unit member said they weren’t allowed to say anything about wives and “official girlfriends.” And when asked what an “official girlfriend” is, the Unit member said that’s what they’d been told to say.
Impact on players and teams
It’s not surprising that certain names have come up. The report states that the board has noticed players like Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, and Yashasvi Jaiswal being seen with women who are rumoured to be their partners this season. The worry gets worse when these companions stay in the team hotels or travel on the same flights as the team.
The board doesn’t mind players having girlfriends, the report also said. The problem is where these girlfriends are and how close they are to the team during the tournament. Some partners even travel to different cities on their own, and officials feel this makes it harder to keep track of things and increases the chance of secrets being revealed.
Beyond the IPL: a wider reset
This could also affect the Indian National team. After losing the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia, the board made stricter rules for travel. One of these said that on tours of 45 days or more, a player’s family could only be with him for one week.
It’s easier to control what happens in national team training camps compared to the 10 IPL teams which are run independently, so making sure the rules are followed will be difficult. However, it’s clear what they intend to do: re-establish boundaries to stop uncertain situations from becoming scandals. The report also pointed out that some partners have been advertising betting websites, and a few female companions have recently filed police reports against players.
What happens next depends on the next BCCI meeting. If the new rules are approved, they could change the way teams are run as soon as next season, with all teams doing things the same way and keeping information secure being the most important thing.
