All 10 IPL team captains participated in a photoshoot and meeting at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on March 20, 2025. Captains Meeting on Impact Player, Saliva Ban & Second New Ball.
The captains’ photoshoot usually takes place in the city hosting the first match of the season. The IPL 2025 opener, KKR vs. RCB, is set to be held in Kolkata. However, this time, the meeting and photoshoot took place at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai.
List of All 10 Team Captains
- Rajat Patidar – Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Shreyas Iyer – Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Axar Patel – Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Ruturaj Gaikwad – Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Hardik Pandya – Mumbai Indians
- Ajinkya Rahane – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Pat Cummins – Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Rishabh Pant – Lucknow Super Giants
- Shubman Gill – Gujarat Titans (GT)
- Sanju Samson – Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Part – Time Captains:
- Mumbai Indians (MI) – Suryakumar Yadav (1st match vs CSK, as Hardik Pandya is suspended for slow over-rate)
- Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Riyan Parag (First 3 matches, as Sanju Samson is awaiting full fitness clearance)
BCCI Lifts Saliva Ban on Ball
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, cricketers were banned from using saliva to shine the ball. However, in a major decision, the BCCI has lifted the saliva ban for IPL 2025, allowing players to once again use saliva for ball maintenance. This decision was discussed during the All-Teams Captains Meeting held at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai ahead of the season.
Discussion on Impact Player Rule
Impact player rule will continue till IPL 2027, will be reviewed after this cycle. (Gaurav Gupta).
The Impact Player Rule, introduced in IPL 2023. While the rule has been beneficial for some teams, it has also put others at a disadvantage, leading to mixed reactions.
Second Ball Rule Introduced to Counter Dew
In IPL matches, a second ball is introduced after the 11th over of the second innings to counter the effects of dew, which can make the ball slippery and difficult to grip for bowlers. This rule aims to maintain a fair balance between batting and bowling conditions in dew-affected matches.
No Bans for Captains in slow over-rate offence
The BCCI has decided that captains will not face immediate bans for slow over-rate offences in IPL 2025. Instead, they will receive demerit points, with a ban only applicable in extreme cases.
- Captains will be penalized with demerit points but will not face a match ban for slow over-rate violations.
- Level 1 offence: A fine ranging from 25% to 75% of match fees and demerit points, which will be recorded for the next three years.
- Level 2 offence: If deemed serious, results in four demerit points.
- For every 4 demerit points accumulated, the match referee may impose a 100% fine or additional demerit points, which could lead to a future match ban.
Hardik Pandya, who was set to miss Mumbai Indians’ opening game against CSK due to the previous slow over-rate rule, will now be available under the new regulations, which take effect from IPL 2025.
DRS Hawk-Eye Technology Updated for IPL 2025
The Decision Review System (DRS) in IPL 2025 has been expanded to include height-based no-ball reviews and wide ball reviews and wide ball review outside the off stumps. The updated system will utilize Hawk-Eye technology and ball tracking to assist umpires in making more accurate and consistent decisions
Wide Ball Review: DRS can now be used to adjudicate wide balls outside the off stump and deliveries passing over the batter’s head.
Height-Based No-Ball Review: The technology will measure the ball’s height as it crosses the batter and compare it to the batter’s recorded head height. If the ball is higher than the batter’s head, it will be considered a wide.
Enhanced Accuracy: With Hawk-Eye tracking, umpires will have better precision in ruling no-balls and wides, improving fairness in decision-making.
This upgrade aims to reduce umpiring errors and ensure consistent and fair calls throughout IPL 2025.
