All ten IPL 2026 captains will sit down with the BCCI at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 25, just three days before the tournament opens at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. It is an annual ritual before every IPL season, but this year’s meeting carries a little extra significance given the number of new captains taking charge and the ongoing conversations about rules like the Impact Player.

When, Where and Who

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, with sessions running through to 6 PM. The captains’ photoshoot, a tournament tradition, was held separately in New Delhi on March 15.

All ten franchise captains and their respective head coaches are expected to attend. The meeting will be addressed by Javagal Srinath, who heads the match referees panel, and senior umpire Nitin Menon, who leads the umpiring panel.

The captains confirmed to attend include:

  • Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

  • Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)

  • Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings)

  • Pat Cummins (SunRisers Hyderabad) — subject to fitness availability

  • Riyan Parag (Rajasthan Royals)

  • Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders)

  • Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)

  • Axar Patel (Delhi Capitals)

What Will Be Discussed

A BCCI official confirmed to PTI that there are no new regulations for IPL 2026 — so the meeting is primarily about making sure every captain and coach, especially those new to their roles, fully understands the existing rules. Key topics on the agenda include:

  • Impact Player rule — how it operates and team responsibilities around it

  • Code of Conduct and demerit points system — the 36-month demerit window introduced in IPL 2025 remains in force

  • Two bouncers per over — permitted across IPL

  • Bat size checks — standard playing condition reminder

  • Saliva use — permitted since IPL 2025, bowlers can use saliva to shine the ball

  • Ball replacement rules — when a lost or damaged ball can be changed

  • Retired out — the relevant laws around its use

  • DRS scope — now includes height-based no-ball and wide-ball reviews using Hawk-Eye technology, expanded in IPL 2025

Rules That Came In Last Year

The IPL 2025 captains’ meeting produced several significant changes that will carry over into this season.

The saliva ban — which had been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic was first enforced by the ICC in 2022 — was lifted for the IPL after all ten captains agreed. The team bowling second was also given the option to request a ball change once after the 10th over, with the umpires selecting the replacement ball — a move designed to address the dew problem in evening matches.

DRS was expanded to cover height no-balls and wide balls outside off-stump, using Hawk-Eye and ball-tracking technology, giving teams more review options per innings.

With the tournament now just days away, the March 25 meeting is the final administrative stop before 10 teams and their millions of fans get the season they have been waiting for.