Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: The BCCI has introduced a new rule in IPL 2026 to limit the movement of substitute and benched players during matches, according to a report from Cricbuzz. Under this update, only the 16 players named in the match squad are allowed on the field, while others must stay in the dugout. The move is seen as an effort to tighten on-field discipline, though no official reason has been given.
New rules for substitutes
The report understands that the teams have been told that players who are not part of the playing 16 cannot step onto the field, even for routine tasks like carrying drinks or messages. Only a maximum of five players, wearing bibs, are allowed to move near the boundary at any time.“Instructions have been passed to us only recently that all substitutes cannot move around during the match. They are also not allowed to carry drinks onto the field. Only the 16 named in the team for the match can do so. In addition to that, only five outside the playing XI can move around. The others can sit in the dugout, but cannot move between the boundary line and LED advertising boards,” team sources said.
What this means
Earlier, larger squads often had several players assisting on the field during matches. Now, the BCCI has tightened existing rules to reduce unnecessary movement and maintain better control. The change applies to all IPL teams this season, where squads can have up to 25 players but only 16 are officially part of a match.While the exact reason remains unclear, the decision is being seen as a stricter enforcement of playing conditions to streamline match operations and avoid overcrowding around the field.
