The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a major rule change ahead of IPL 2025, providing relief to captains across all franchises. Unlike previous seasons, captains will no longer face match bans for slow over-rate violations. Instead, they will receive demerit points, and only under extreme cases will a ban be imposed.
This rule change is expected to benefit teams significantly, as captains previously had to bear the consequences of slow over-rates even when the issue was caused by the bowlers or fielding delays.
BCCI’s New Over-Rate Rule in IPL 2025
As per the latest rule update, captains will no longer receive an automatic one-match suspension if their team fails to maintain the required over-rate multiple times in a season. Instead, the penalties will work as follows:
New Slow Over-Rate Penalty System in IPL 2025
| Offense Level | Penalty |
|---|---|
| First Offense | 25% to 75% match fee fine + demerit points |
| Second Offense | Increased fine + more demerit points |
| Third Offense & Beyond | Additional demerit points, which could lead to a future match ban under extreme cases |
A total of four demerit points will result in a severe penalty, but unlike previous seasons, a slow over-rate alone will not immediately lead to a match suspension.
“The captain will be penalized with demerit points but will not face a match ban for slow over-rate,” a BCCI source confirmed to Cricbuzz.
Why Did BCCI Change the Slow Over-Rate Rule?
The decision to remove immediate match bans for captains comes after multiple complaints from teams and players. Previously, captains had to serve one-match suspensions after three slow over-rate violations, which often disrupted team balance and affected match strategies.
A key example is Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya, who had to face a match ban due to repeated slow over-rate violations. The rule change means that in IPL 2025, captains like Hardik Pandya and others will no longer suffer suspensions directly due to their team’s slow over-rate.
“For every four demerit points accumulated, the match referee can impose a penalty, either in the form of a 100% fine or additional demerit points. However, a match ban will only be applied in extreme cases.”
This change allows captains to focus on leading their teams effectively without the risk of an unfair suspension.
Other Major Rule Changes for IPL 2025
1. Ban on Saliva Usage on the Ball Lifted
Since 2020, bowlers were not allowed to use saliva on the ball due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, BCCI has now lifted this ban, allowing bowlers to shine the ball using saliva again in IPL 2025.
2. Two New Balls in Each Inning
Another significant change is the introduction of two new balls per inning:
- First ball will be used for the first 10 overs.
- Second ball will be introduced for the remaining 10 overs.
This change is expected to impact bowling strategies, particularly for swing and spin bowlers.
3. Impact Player Rule to Continue
There were speculations that BCCI might remove the Impact Player rule, but the board has decided to retain it for IPL 2025.
What This Rule Change Means for IPL 2025 Captains
The removal of automatic match bans for slow over-rates is a welcome relief for captains across franchises. The new rule ensures that leadership responsibilities are not unfairly impacted due to external factors such as bowler delays or slow fielding adjustments.
Impact on Teams and Captains
| Team | Captain | Impact of Rule Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Hardik Pandya | No risk of immediate match ban |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | MS Dhoni (Expected) | Can manage over-rates with flexibility |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Rajat Patidar | Won’t be penalized unfairly for bowler’s mistakes |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Ajinkya Rahane | Will focus more on tactics without suspension fear |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Sanju Samson (after recovery) | Can manage slow over-rates without losing captaincy role |
This rule ensures that captains will still be penalized financially and through demerit points, but without the harsh punishment of missing crucial matches.
