In a fresh sign of the BCCI's tightening grip on off-field discipline during the ongoing IPL 2026 season, the Board's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has stepped in after an unnamed senior IPL star was found hosting guests in his hotel room late into the night on multiple occasions.
According to NDTV, the ACU officer summoned the team manager for an explanation. The manager's response was described as "casual and disinterested," and he reportedly defended the player by citing his seniority within the squad.
The incident has emerged just days after the BCCI issued a detailed advisory to all 10 IPL franchises, laying down strict protocols on hotel room access. The guidelines, aimed at preventing security lapses and potential compromise, mandate that
no outsider - regardless of relationship - can enter a player's or support staff member's room without prior written or verbal approval from the team manager. Guests are to be received only in public areas such as the lobby, and meetings after 10 pm have been strongly discouraged.
The BCCI's move reflects growing concerns over unauthorised visitors during the cash-rich league. A former IPL team manager told NDTV, "I am not surprised. At times, the players use their stature within the team to bend the rules. "
Another franchise official noted that clear instructions have now been issued: "We have told them not to entertain guests after 10 pm, and such meetings should happen in the lobby or any other public place. "
The development comes as IPL 2026 moves into its business end, with the league running from late March to May 24. The Board has also warned franchises about risks of honey-trapping and has announced surprise room checks by a joint BCCI-IPL task force. Officials emphasise that while player privacy will be respected, repeated violations could invite strict action.
