There are new rules, such as having to complete the final over of the day, tougher penalties on deliberate no balls and some changes to the playing conditions.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a number of new Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) playing condition changes for the 2026-27 domestic cricket season, one of which is that the last over of the day’s play will be completed even if a wicket falls during that over.
The BCCI has shared the proposed changes with the state associations and the changes are likely to be implemented in domestic matches as well.
Final over must be completed
One of the biggest changes is to the multi-day cricket format, where the final over of the day’s play will now be played until all six balls have been bowled, even if a wicket falls in the over.
The new rule is designed to stop batting teams from not sending a new batsman to the crease at the end of the day, as a result of the dismissal.
The MCC says the change aims to make it fair and eliminate a “tactical loophole” that had sometimes been used in red-ball cricket.
Tougher punishment for deliberate no-balls
The BCCI also has plans to impose tougher penalties on bowlers who intentionally go over the front crease.
Any bowler who is called by the umpire for a front-foot no-ball or a non-landing ball, which they knowingly and intentionally bowled, will be suspended from bowling for the match, rather than the innings.
Whether a no-ball is deliberate will be at the discretion of the on-field umpires.
More updates to playing conditions
The proposed changes also include a number of other significant changes in every format of the game.
A fielder, who deliberately catches the ball before it hits the striker, will now be awarded a No Ball, and the delivery will be Dead Ball.
The MCC has also scrapped the possibility of declaring and forfeiting in the last over of a game, stating that it was only being used to make artificial results.
Additional rule changes
Among the other proposed updates:
- Head coaches will be allowed onto the field during drinks breaks in One-Day Internationals.
- If there is no intent to deceive, batters can walk away from a run and it will not be a deliberate short run.
- Deliberate short runs will be decided by the fielding captain who will select which batter will face the next delivery.
- The definition of a “dead ball” has been changed when the ball is completely in the control of a fielder or is stationary on the ground.
- There will be new rules for leg-side wides in white-ball cricket.
- At the time of delivery all fielders must be within the boundary.
- Under new rules, wicketkeepers will be required to be behind the stumps at the time of delivery.
- Umpires will be held more accountable for the use of illegal equipment during games.
The BCCI is likely to put these new playing conditions in place for the upcoming domestic season, aligning Indian cricket with the latest MCC Laws and modernizing various aspects of the game’s regulations.
