BCCI Revises IPL 2025 Rules, Introduces Demerit Points for Over-Rate Offences

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that captains in the Indian Premier League (IPL) will no longer face immediate match bans for slow over-rate offences; instead, they will incur demerit points. This decision follows previous suspensions for prominent players like Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant and aims to align with similar international standards. For a Level 1 offence, captains will be fined 25% to 75% of their match fees, while repeated or serious offences can result in four demerit points, which may lead to further penalties if accumulated. Additionally, the BCCI has revoked the COVID-era ban on using saliva to shine cricket balls and confirmed the continuation of the Impact Player rule. Other amendments include expanding the Decision Review System (DRS) for height-related wides and introducing a second new ball for the second innings to combat dew. These updates were discussed at a meeting with captains held in Mumbai on March 20.