The Board of Control for Cricket in India is preparing to make strict rules soon to save Indian cricket trapped in ‘Girlfriend Culture’. Outside the field, the personal lives of players also remain in the headlines.

Sports News: The Board of Control for Cricket in India is considering formulating new and strict guidelines regarding the personal and professional limitations of players in the IPL and the Indian cricket setup. According to reports, this step is being taken keeping in mind the possible impact on the personal relationships with the players and the team atmosphere, especially during the IPL season.

This proposal has come at a time when the Indian Premier League 2026 is at its peak and the on-field performance as well as off-field activities of the players are in the news.

Why did BCCI’s concern increase?

According to sources, the board believes that in recent years, the presence of female friends or partners along with players in team hotels and during travel has increased. In some cases, this is expected to affect team discipline and focus.

Some officials of the BCCI Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) were quoted as saying that the current rules allow family and spouse to live together, but there is a lack of clarity on the definition of “officially announced girlfriend”. Due to this ambiguity, the Board is now working towards making the rules more clear and strict.

The discussion started with the presence of which players?

The names of some prominent Indian cricketers have emerged in the reports, including:

• • Hardik Pandya

• • Arshdeep Singh

• • Yashasvi Jaiswal

• • Ishan Kishan

Although no disciplinary action has been officially taken against any player, the cases have sparked debate over policy review within the board.

What could be the new rules?

BCCI is considering some major changes under the proposed framework:

• • Only authorized family or spouse allowed in team hotel

• • Ban on travel of non-official companions

• • Strictness on team discipline and time management

• • Strengthening ACU monitoring

According to some reports, this rule may be implemented before the upcoming season. Since there are 10 different franchises in IPL, control and monitoring is considered a big challenge. Each team is privately owned, limiting direct control by the board.