next to Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Throughout the season, team captains have been issued strict reminders about the rules surrounding catches, particularly focusing on fielder control before celebrating dismissal. Often we see that after completing the catch, players celebrate the catch even before the ball comes in their hands and now the board is considering solving this issue.
During a meeting organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday, captains and team representatives were shown several video examples highlighting instances of “incomplete” catches. Officials stressed that a catch would only be considered legal if the fielder had complete control of both the ball and their body movement.
As per clause 33.3 of the playing conditions, the act of catching will commence from the time the ball first comes into contact with a fielder and will end when the fielder regains complete control of both the ball and its pace, reports Cricbuzz.
Although the rule itself is not new, the governing body has made it clear that its enforcement will be much stricter this season. Match officials including Javagal Srinath and Nitin Menon addressed this aspect in detail during the 90-minute session, and underlined the importance of body balance and control in completing a proper catch.
Apart from the catching rules, the captains were also informed that the much-discussed impact player rule will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Despite ongoing discussions and criticism from some players, the BCCI confirmed that there would be no immediate review of the rule.
has been one of the most vocal critics Akshar PatelWho recently expressed his concern over its impact on all-rounders.
“To be honest, I don't like this rule, because I am an all-rounder. Earlier, you used to choose an all-rounder for batting and bowling. Because of this rule, the team management goes for a particular batsman or bowler, thinking 'why do we need an all-rounder?',” Akshar had said.
The common feeling among many stakeholders is that this rule hinders the development of genuine all-rounders in the format. However, BCCI officials have indicated that any reconsideration of the rule will happen only after the 2027 season.
A franchise member who attended the meeting revealed, “It was discussed and it was made clear to all of us that the Impact Player rule will remain in place for at least two more seasons.”
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