It's common practice for cricketers to bring their partners with them when they travel. Under normal circumstances, no distractions occur. However, there can be moments when athletes' private lives interferes with their professional ones.
The Indian cricket board has looked to avoid this from happening.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly unhappy with the public appearances of certain players with their girlfriends during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Players such as Hardik Pandya, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, and Arshdeep Singh have frequently been spotted travelling with their rumoured partners in team buses and staying in team hotels during the ongoing campaign.
Consequently, the BCCI is drafting rules to prohibit this "girlfriend culture" in the T20 league, fearing that a major issue could arise if the trend continues.
According to a report in Dainik Jagran, the board is concerned about the "influencer" status of some partners. Reports suggest that some of these individuals have previously promoted betting apps on social media. In recent years, disputes have also emerged between certain players and their partners; in some instances, female acquaintances have lodged police complaints, tarnishing the image of both the league and the board.
As per a report in Dainik Jagran, the ‘influencer’ status of some of these partners has the BCCI concerned. Reports indicate that many of them earlier on promoted betting apps on the internet. That has given rise to disputes.
A high-ranking BCCI official stated, "If this is not stopped now, it could lead to major problems in the future. We are seeing instances where team buses are being made to wait for girlfriends and they are staying in the same hotels as the players."
Another key factor influencing the board’s thinking is the growing social media presence of some partners, particularly those with large online followings. This has raised the possibility that behind-the-scenes details, team movements or sensitive information could be unintentionally shared, creating integrity risks for the league.
There have also been recent off-field incidents during the season that have heightened scrutiny around player conduct and overall discipline, reinforcing the urgency to establish clearer boundaries.
The official also revealed that some Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) officers were reportedly allowing girlfriends to stay with players after being told they were "officially announced partners."
"I don't know where this 'official girlfriend' rule came from. There is no such provision in the BCCI's formal policy. We only allow wives and family members under specific guidelines. We need to investigate who authorised this," the official said.
Since several of these partners are renowned social media influencers, the board is worried that sensitive information could be accidentally leaked, posing a threat to the integrity of the sport.
The situation has also exposed uncertainty around existing rules, particularly regarding who is permitted to stay with players during league operations. Current guidelines allow wives and immediate family members under defined conditions but the emergence of what has been described as "official girlfriends" has created confusion within enforcement structures.
Addressing this, a BCCI official said as quoted by Dainik Jagran, "I don’t know where this 'official girlfriend' rule came from. There is no such provision in the BCCI’s formal policy. We only allow wives and family members under specific guidelines. We need to investigate who authorised this."
The BCCI is keen to address the matter in its next meeting and issue strict guidelines regarding "girlfriend culture" in the league. These rules will reportedly apply not only to the IPL but also to the Indian national team during international tours. Although IPL teams are privately owned, the BCCI intends to create a central rule that will apply to all franchises.
The BCCI is expected to deliberate on the issue formally in an upcoming meeting, with potential measures ranging from tighter Anti-Corruption Unit protocols to a complete restriction on non-family members travelling or staying with players.
The board is also evaluating whether similar standards should be extended beyond the IPL to India’s international tours, where player movement is already more tightly regulated.
Given the IPL’s structure of multiple privately owned franchises, enforcing uniform conduct rules has presented challenges, prompting the board to consider centralised guidelines that would apply across all teams.
The report couldn't be independently verified but the developments point to a broader shift towards stricter governance of player environments as the league continues to expand in scale and global visibility.
The ACU is also expected to receive clear instructions regarding stay and travel protocols.
This is understandle. Cricketers can be easily distracted. They are highly payed to participate in the tournament. Poor performances won't be accepted. The releasing of sensitive information can definitely jeopardise the integrity of the tournament and the game. It can result in a catastrophe.