The BCCI held its annual captains’ meeting on Wednesday in Mumbai ahead of IPL 2026. Two major takeaways came out of it. First, all ten franchise captains were warned about incomplete catches and the need for proper fielder control.
Second, the Impact Player rule will continue for at least two more seasons, putting an end to speculation about its removal.
Captains cautioned on catching rules
The BCCI made it clear that a catch will only be considered valid if the fielder has complete control of both the ball and their body before any celebration begins.
This is not a new rule, but officials felt the need to reinforce it ahead of this season. During the meeting, officials showed several video clips from the recent T20 World Cup where catches were ruled invalid because the fielder did not have full control.
As per Clause 33.3 of the playing conditions:
“The act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his own movement.”
The message to captains was simple. Do not celebrate before completing the catch. If the fielder loses balance or drops the ball during the celebration, it will not count.
Impact Player rule here to stay until at least 2027
The Impact Player rule, which has been a topic of debate since it was introduced in IPL 2023, will remain in place. BCCI and IPL officials confirmed during the meeting that there are no immediate plans for a review. Any formal discussion on the rule will only happen after the 2027 season.
Not everyone is happy with the decision. Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel openly shared his views:
“I don’t like this rule, honestly, because I am an all-rounder. Earlier, you would pick an all-rounder for both batting and bowling. Because of this rule, teams now prefer specialists.”
There is a growing feeling in the cricketing community that the rule could hurt the development of all-rounders. However, the BCCI has made its stance clear. A franchise representative who attended the meeting confirmed the same:
“It was discussed, and it was made clear to all of us that the Impact Player rule is here to stay for at least two more seasons.”
