The BCCI has ruled that benched players will not be permitted to move around the dugout during matches in the 2026 Indian Premier League. Extra players, who are not named in the 16 players in the team sheet (playing XI + impact player options), are not allowed to enter the playing field. This is a new update to the Match Playing Conditions (MPC) shared with the teams ahead of the start of the tournament.

Substitute players are also not permitted to enter the field unless they are among the 16 named by the management in the team sheet. The exact reasoning for these new guidelines is not known, but it is understood that the BCCI have issued instructions to the teams to control the movement of players in the dugouts as it has caused distraction to the on-field players.

The BCCI has also directed that not more than five players wearing bibs can move around the boundary rope. These players can be from the 16 nominated or from the rest of the squad, but should not be more than five at a time returning drinks or balls from the boundary. 

"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," multiple team sources said, as reported by Cricbuzz

The updates come to Clause 11.5.2 and Clause 24.1.4 of the MPC

"An individual player may be given a drink either on the boundary edge or at the fall of a wicket, on the field, provided that no playing time is wasted. No other drinks shall be taken onto the field without the permission of the umpires. Any player taking drinks onto the field shall be dressed in proper cricket attire (subject to the wearing of bibs)," Clause 11.5.2 of the Playing Conditions says.

"Squad members of the fielding or batting team who are not playing in the match and who are not acting as substitute fielders shall be required to wear a team training bib whilst on the playing area (including the area between the boundary and the perimeter fencing)," Clause 24.1.4 says.

In a recent incident, LSG’s Avesh Khan, waiting padded up, hit a stray ball heading towards the boundary back into the playing field in their game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. While the move from Avesh did not disrupt the play, the gesture has come off in poor sportsmanship and received widespread criticism.