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IPL 2025: Ban on Matches for Slow Over-Rates, Instead Demerit Points for Captains

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a very important change to the playing conditions for the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the next season. The major update is the new penalty of captains who are found to be guilty of slow over-rate; they won't get a match ban any longer but demerit points, and only in extreme cases are the bans enforced.

At a meeting with franchise captains and managers in Mumbai on March 20, the BCCI announced that a demerit points system, on the lines of the one 'adopted' by the ICC, would be in place. Based on how severe the offences related to over-rates are, captains will gain demerit points that will last for the next three years.

An internal communique read, "The captain is going to be penalised in terms of demerit points-not being banned from a match for slow over-rate." Level 1 offence will attract a penalty of 25-75% of the match fee along with demerit points while that of Level 2 will attract four demerit points.

"Every four demerit points a match referee can assign some penalty like 100% fine or extra points. Those may culminate into a match ban but will not be immediate for slow over-rates," a source informed.

Earlier, captains like Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya had to face some match bans due to an over-rate. These immediate bans, however, will not be applicable under the new rules.

Impact Player Rule to Stay up to 2027

The much-debated rule of the Impact Player, which allows a team to replace a player during a match, will continue to be in force at least until 2027. After that period, the BCCI will review the rule.

DRS, and more Changes

Now players would be able to request a review of any umpire decision with respect to wide and no-balls-height and off-stump. The new measures also allow taking back the saliva ban and an upper limit of a second ball in the second innings.

The changes are meant to smoothen play, make it fair, and cut down on hitches caused to teams in real time. The audience awaits a better balanced and strategic 2025 IPL season.(source-cricbuzz)