The Indian Premier League (IPL) will adopt the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct regulations for players, starting from the 2025 season, which kicks off on March 21. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) will also be played across four cities, according to decisions made at the IPL Governing Council (GC) meeting on Sunday.
While BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla initially announced March 23 as the start date, a senior GC member clarified that the tournament will begin on either March 20 or 21. The decision to align with the ICC Code of Conduct was finalized during the meeting.
“Going forward, ICC’s sanctioned penalties will be applied for Level 1, 2, and 3 offences. Until now, IPL followed its own Code of Conduct, but from this season, ICC T20I Playing Conditions will be enforced,” a GC member revealed to PTI anonymously.
Harshit Rana’s Flying Kiss Incident in IPL
The decision comes after multiple on-field incidents in the previous season, including 10 Code of Conduct violations. One notable incident involved Kolkata Knight Riders’ pacer Harshit Rana, who was fined for giving a flying kiss to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Mayank Agarwal after taking his wicket. He was charged with two Level 1 offences, resulting in a 60% fine on his match fees.
Later in the season, Harshit faced another violation for an over-the-top celebration against Delhi Capitals, leading to a 100% fine and a one-match suspension. Despite the controversies, he emerged as the highest uncapped wicket-taker, contributing to KKR’s title win.
With the ICC Code in place, stricter penalties will likely reduce such incidents. The IPL aims to ensure players maintain professionalism and respect on the field, minimizing misconduct in future seasons.
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