The Indian Premier League (IPL) has implemented a significant change in its over-rate regulations, ensuring that captains will no longer face suspensions for repeated offences.
From IPL 2025 onwards, captains who exceed the over-rate limit will not serve a one-match suspension after three violations in a season. Instead, they will incur financial penalties and on-field restrictions.
Hardik Pandya to Serve Suspension Under Old Rule
Despite the new rule coming into effect, sanctions imposed before the 2025 season will remain in place.
This means that Hardik Pandya, who was penalized under the previous system, will still miss Mumbai Indians’ season opener against Chennai Super Kings on March 23.
Demerit Points System Introduced
In an effort to align with the ICC’s code of conduct, the IPL governing council has introduced a demerit points system. Under this revised framework, any sanction imposed by the match referee will lead to demerit points being added to a player’s or team official’s record.
The key aspects of this system include:
- A fine amounting to 25% of the match fee will result in one demerit point.
- Demerit points will apply to both players and team officials.
- These points will remain on an individual’s record for 36 months.
- Accumulation of demerit points could lead to a suspension.
This modification shifts the focus from immediate suspensions to a long-term tracking system that monitors disciplinary behaviour over multiple seasons.
Appeal Mechanism for Higher-Level Offences
The IPL has also introduced an appeal process for Level 2 and Level 3 offences. Players, team officials, or franchises can challenge sanctions before the BCCI ombudsman.
However, this appeal will only be considered upon the payment of an appeal fee amounting to INR 90 lakh (approximately USD 104,000). The fee is refundable only if the appeal is entirely successful.
No Retrospective Application of Demerit Points
While the new demerit system is set to reshape player conduct regulations, it will not apply retroactively. Sanctions imposed before the start of IPL 2025 will not be converted into demerit points.
The IPL’s decision to eliminate automatic suspensions for captains due to over-rate breaches marks a pivotal shift in its disciplinary framework. By introducing a demerit points system, the league ensures a more structured approach to penalizing repeated offences while maintaining fairness. As teams gear up for IPL 2025, this reform is expected to influence strategic decisions regarding game management and on-field discipline.
