The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to crack down on franchise-level misconduct following a string of protocol violations during the IPL 2026 season.
Board secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Saturday that the governing body is exploring new disciplinary avenues to penalize entire teams rather than just individual players or officials. Saikia's comments come on the heels of two high-profile incidents involving the Rajasthan Royals, which have sparked a debate over team decorum and the enforcement of tournament regulations.
The first controversy surfaced when Rajasthan Royals team manager Ravinder Singh Bhinder was caught on camera using his mobile phone in the vicinity of the team dugout, a direct breach of the league's strict
anti-corruption protocols. While Bhinder apologized to the BCCI anti-corruption unit and claimed the incident was unintentional, he was subsequently fined INR 1 lakh. Shortly after, the franchise faced further scrutiny when captain Riyan Parag was caught vaping in the dressing room during a match against the Punjab Kings. Parag was docked 25% of his match fees and handed a demerit point for the violation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the India squad announcement for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in Mumbai, Saikia emphasized that the league's image must be protected at all costs.
"We are exploring some other options about how to bring the teams which are violating the norms," Saikia stated, adding that the board is currently reviewing the various terms and conditions of the IPL to determine how collective responsibility can be enforced.
He clarified that the board's focus has shifted toward how teams behave as a unit, noting that "it is not just players or officials" who are responsible for maintaining the league's reputation.
"As a team they have to maintain some decorum so that the image of the IPL is never adversely affected. To ensure that we have to take a call and we will be taking some action," he added.
While specific penalties for the franchise have not yet been finalized, the shift in rhetoric suggests that future violations could lead to heavier sanctions against the organizations themselves.
In response to the recurring headlines, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara admitted that the controversies were not a positive reflection of the team. However, he maintained that the issues had been addressed internally and with the BCCI. Sangakkara defended the franchise's values, stating that the organization consistently strives to foster a healthy and positive culture among its members despite the recent disciplinary setbacks.
