Sports Cockpit · Ball & Team · ICC playing conditions 2025 · BCCI season 2026-27
Cricket — formats, BCCI age groups, the IPL & the road to India colours
Education Margdarshan's cricket map for India: the playing conditions the ICC uses for Tests, ODIs and T20Is, the BCCI's age-group ladder for 2026-27 and its age-fraud bans, the Centre of Excellence fitness system, IPL player rules, central-contract grades, match fees, and where cricket sits in government schemes and job quotas.
01 Core rules & selection formats
The three formats and the BCCI age-group ladder
International formats under the ICC men's playing conditions (2025) [3][2][1]
| Rule | Test | ODI | T20I |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 5 days, 6 hours a day, at least 90 overs a day | 50 overs an innings | 20 overs an innings |
| Max overs per bowler | No limit | 10 | 4 |
| Fielding restrictions | None | Overs 1–10: max 2 fielders outside the 30-yard circle · 11–40: max 4 · 41–50: max 5 | Overs 1–6 (powerplay): max 2 outside · after that: max 5 |
| New ball | Home board supplies approved balls | Two new balls, one from each end, for overs 1–34; the fielding side then keeps one for the rest | One ball |
- A match is two sides of eleven players; each captain names the 11 plus up to 4 substitute fielders to the match referee before the toss. Concussion replacements are allowed.
- By being nominated, a player agrees to the ICC's Code of Conduct, Anti-Doping Code and Anti-Corruption Code. [1]
Ball and bat limits (ICC Test playing conditions) [3]
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Ball (new) | 155.9–163 g; circumference 22.4–22.9 cm |
| Bat length | Not more than 96.52 cm (38 in); the handle no more than 52% of it |
| Blade | Wood only; width ≤ 10.8 cm, depth ≤ 6.7 cm, edges ≤ 4.0 cm, and it must pass the bat gauge |
BCCI domestic season 2026-27 — 1,788 matches [4]
| Level | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Senior | Duleep Trophy (six zonal teams, from 23 Aug 2026) · Irani Cup (from 1 Oct) · Ranji Trophy: Elite Group of 32 teams in 4 groups + Plate Group of 6, played in two phases | Senior competitions |
| U23 | Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy (two phases; Winners vs Rest of India returns 1–4 Oct 2026) · Men's U23 State A Trophy, now T20 | U23 competitions |
| U19 | U19 tournaments incl. the Cooch Behar Trophy (Elite knockouts at Bengaluru and Mysuru) | U19 competitions |
| U16 / U15 | Vijay Merchant Trophy (U16), moved to November–January | U15 competitions |
- Only players aged 14 to 16 may register for the BCCI Under-16 tournament.
- In Under-19 cricket, if a birth was registered more than 2 years after the birth, the number of years the player may play BCCI U19 tournaments is restricted. [5]
02 Institutional & global recognition
Olympics 2028, Asian Games and the IPL
Cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics [7]
| Item | Fact |
|---|---|
| Format | T20, men and women |
| Teams | 6 per gender; 90 athlete places each, so 15-player squads |
| Dates | 12–29 July 2028; women's medal matches 20 July, men's 29 July |
| Venue | The Fairgrounds, Pomona, about 50 km from downtown Los Angeles |
| History | Cricket's second Olympic appearance, 128 years after Paris 1900 |
At the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, India's women won back-to-back gold, beating Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final — India's first gold of those Games. [8]
IPL player regulations 2025-27 [6]
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Retentions | Up to 6 players by retention or Right to Match — at most 5 capped and 2 uncapped |
| Auction purse | ₹120 crore for IPL 2025 |
| Total salary cap | ₹146 crore (2025) · ₹151 crore (2026) · ₹157 crore (2027), counting purse, performance pay and match fees |
| Match fee | ₹7.5 lakh per match to each playing member, including the Impact Player |
| Uncapped status | A capped Indian becomes uncapped if he has not been in a starting XI in Tests, ODIs or T20Is in the last 5 calendar years, or has no BCCI central contract |
The Ministry's cash-award scheme pays for medals at the Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth Games in all disciplines, but its sport-by-sport list of world championships has no ICC event — only the Blind Cricket World Cup in the para section. [15]
03 Physical benchmarks & anti-doping
How the BCCI tests fitness and clears injured players
- Contracted and targeted players go through pre-season screening at the BCCI Centre of Excellence — fitness assessments and field tests, including the Bronco Test.
- Every session is logged on the Athlete Management System, with GPS used to track activity and workloads.
- Each fast bowler — contracted, targeted and Under-19 — has an individual weekly workload range.
- An injured player returns only after meeting the fitness benchmark and playing two return-to-play matches; the CoE sends fitness reports to the selectors. [9]
- Keep to the anti-doping rules: be available for testing, check every medicine against the Prohibited List and get a TUE when no permitted treatment exists. [16]
Cricket is not one of the 27 SAI Training Centre disciplines, so SAI's battery of entry tests does not apply — selection runs through state associations and BCCI tournaments. [18]
04 Grassroots-to-elite roadmap
From the U16 trophy to India colours
The full Cricket roadmap has its own page
📍 See The Journey / Full RoadmapEvery stage from first club to the international level, the detailed route, the age-by-age ladder and what to eat from stage 1, with sources.
05 Top training academies & cities
Where India's cricketers are trained
Verified cricket centres [9][10]
| Centre | City | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| BCCI Centre of Excellence | Bengaluru | The BCCI's high-performance campus — coaching, sports science, sports medicine, strength and conditioning; screening and rehab of contracted, targeted and age-group players |
| MRF Pace Foundation | Chennai | Fast-bowling academy set up in 1987; its 2024 'Ace of Pace' trials in Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai shortlisted 1,000+ bowlers, sent the top 20 from each city to the final and picked 3 to train free |
The old 'National Cricket Academy' is now the BCCI Centre of Excellence. It is not an open-admission academy — players reach it through the BCCI pathway. SAI's NCOEs have no cricket. [9][18]
06 Equipment costs & who pays
Who pays a cricketer at each level
BCCI domestic match fee per day (revised September 2021) [11]
| Category | Playing XI | Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Senior men — up to 20 matches | ₹40,000 | ₹20,000 |
| Senior men — 21 to 40 matches | ₹50,000 | ₹25,000 |
| Senior men — above 40 matches | ₹60,000 | ₹30,000 |
| U23 men | ₹25,000 | ₹12,500 |
| U19 men | ₹20,000 | ₹10,000 |
| U16 men | ₹7,000 | ₹3,500 |
| Senior women | ₹20,000 | ₹10,000 |
| U23 / U19 / U16 women | ₹10,000 | ₹5,000 |
T20 matches pay 50% of these daily rates. Government athlete schemes do not fund cricket: SAI centres do not offer it, and the TOPS core group of August 2024 was 174 individual athletes plus the two hockey teams. [11][18][19]
- Kit must meet the ICC limits above — a bat with a wooden blade that passes the bat gauge.
- Education Margdarshan does not print shop prices for kit: no governing body publishes them, and they change with brand and grade. [3]
- Food first: meet your needs from food, with a certified nutritionist, before thinking of supplements — no supplement is 100% safe. [17]
07 Earning channels & central job quotas
Central contracts, match fees, IPL and sports-quota jobs
BCCI annual retainership 2025-26 (1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sep 2026) [12]
| Grade | Senior men | Senior women |
|---|---|---|
| A | 3 players | 3 players |
| B | 6 players | 5 players |
| C | 21 players | 13 players |
The BCCI's announcement of 9 February 2026 names the players in each grade but does not state the retainer amounts, so Education Margdarshan does not print them. [12]
International match fees (men and women equal since 27 Oct 2022) [13]
| Format | Fee per match |
|---|---|
| Test | ₹15 lakh |
| ODI | ₹6 lakh |
| T20I | ₹3 lakh |
Test Cricket Incentive Scheme — senior men, extra per Test (based on 9 Tests a season) [14]
| Tests played in the season | In the playing XI | Not in the XI |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50% (fewer than 4) | Nil | Nil |
| Over 50% (5–6) | ₹30 lakh | ₹15 lakh |
| Over 75% (7 or more) | ₹45 lakh | ₹22.5 lakh |
- Cricket and Tennis Ball Cricket are among the 65 sports of the central sports quota for Group C posts, with up to 5 years' age relaxation (10 for SC/ST).
- Medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games or World Championships can bring up to three out-of-turn promotions; in team events only if the player played at least 50% of the matches. [20]
08 Disqualification traps
Mistakes that end cricket careers early
- A fake or tampered birth certificate — 2-year ban from all BCCI and state matches, then no age-group cricket ever again.
- Domicile fraud — 2-year ban, seniors included.
- Entering the U16 tournament outside the 14–16 age band, or relying on a birth registered years late. [5]
- Pulling out after being bought at the IPL auction — banned from the tournament and the auction for 2 seasons.
- Overseas players who skip registration for the big auction cannot register for the next year's auction. [6]
09 Official sources & verification
Where these facts come from
Every fact on this Education Margdarshan page is taken from the governing body's own rule book or a Government of India file below, read on 15 October 2026. Federations change rules, weight classes and scheme amounts — open the current file before you act on it.
- ICC Men's Twenty20 International Playing Conditions (effective July 2025) (opens in a new tab) 11 players + 4 substitutes, 20 overs, 4 overs per bowler, powerplay overs 1–6, ICC codes accepted on nomination · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- ICC Men's One-Day International Playing Conditions (effective June 2025) (opens in a new tab) 50 overs, 10 overs per bowler, three powerplays, two new balls to over 34 · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- ICC Men's Test Match Playing Conditions (effective June 2025) (opens in a new tab) Five days, 6 hours and 90 overs a day, ball weight and size, bat size limits · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- BCCI — Domestic Home Season 2026-27 to feature 1,788 matches (opens in a new tab) Senior, U23, U19, U16 (men) and U15 (women) categories; Duleep, Irani, Ranji, C.K. Nayudu, Cooch Behar, Vijay Merchant changes · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- BCCI — Additional measures to tackle age and domicile fraud (from season 2020-21) (opens in a new tab) 2-year bans for fake birth certificates and domicile fraud, U16 age band 14–16, late birth registration in U19 · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- IPL Governing Council — TATA IPL Player Regulations 2025-27 (28 Sep 2024) (opens in a new tab) Retentions and RTM, auction purse, salary cap, ₹7.5 lakh match fee, uncapped rule, 2-season ban · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- ICC — Dates confirmed for cricket's return to the Olympics (16 July 2025) (opens in a new tab) LA28 T20 format, 6 teams per gender, 15-player squads, dates, Pomona venue · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- BCCI — History in Nagoya: Women in Blue bag Team India's first gold at Asian Games 2026 (opens in a new tab) Back-to-back women's gold, 147-run win over Sri Lanka · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- BCCI — How the BCCI Centre of Excellence is shaping India's high-performance system (opens in a new tab) Pre-season screening, Bronco Test, Athlete Management System and GPS, fast-bowler workloads, two return-to-play matches · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- MRF Tyres — 'Ace of Pace' fast-bowler hunt by the MRF Pace Foundation (9 Mar 2024) (opens in a new tab) Foundation set up in 1987, four-city trials, 3 bowlers picked to train free in Chennai · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- BCCI — Update: 9th Apex Council Meeting (20 Sep 2021) (opens in a new tab) Revised per-day domestic match fees for men and women, T20 at 50% · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- BCCI — Annual Player Retainership 2025-26, Team India (9 Feb 2026) (opens in a new tab) Grade A/B/C lists for senior men and women, contract period · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- BCCI — 15th Apex Council meeting: pay equity policy for women cricketers (27 Oct 2022) (opens in a new tab) Test ₹15 lakh, ODI ₹6 lakh, T20I ₹3 lakh for men and women · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- BCCI — Test Cricket Incentive Scheme for senior men (9 Mar 2024) (opens in a new tab) Extra ₹15–45 lakh per Test by share of Tests played · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- MYAS — Scheme of Cash Incentive to Medal Winners (amended 1 Feb 2025) (opens in a new tab) Multi-sport Games in all disciplines; sport-wise championship list (no ICC event) · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- NADA India — Athlete's Rights & Responsibilities (opens in a new tab) Testing duties, Prohibited List, TUE · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- NADA India — Managing the Risk of Nutritional Supplements (opens in a new tab) Food first, supplement risk · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- SAI — Brief on Sports Promotional Schemes 2024-25 (opens in a new tab) NCOE and STC discipline lists (cricket not included) · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- PIB — Financial Support to Athletes (5 Aug 2024) (opens in a new tab) TOPS core group composition · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- DoPT — Instructions on Recruitment/Promotion for Sportspersons (18 Nov 2022) (opens in a new tab) Cricket and Tennis Ball Cricket in the 65-sport list, Group C, out-of-turn promotion in team events · Last checked 15 Oct 2026
- Western Railway RRC — Employment Notice RRC/WR/01/2026 (Sports Quota), 27 Aug 2026 (opens in a new tab) Age 18–25 on 1 Jan 2027, Level 5/4, 3/2 and 1 sports norms, MoYAS-recognition rule, fees · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- CRPF — Recruitment of Meritorious Sportspersons, HC & Constable (GD), Sports Quota 2026 (Advt. R.II-21/2026-Sports, 17 Sep 2026) (opens in a new tab) 521 posts, age 18–23 on 1 Aug 2026 with sportsperson relaxation (+5 UR, +8 OBC, +10 SC/ST), qualifications, fee, ₹1 lakh bond · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition — Dietary Guidelines for Indians (booklet), Guideline 8 (opens in a new tab) Cereal-pulse 3:1 protein quality, vegetarian and non-vegetarian protein sources; most athletes meet protein needs from food, protein powders unnecessary · Last checked 19 Oct 2026
Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and Education Margdarshan will update it.
More in the Margdarshan sports cockpit
- Wrestling Combat & Mat Sports
- Football Ball & Team Games
- Chess Mind & Strategy
- Hockey Ball & Team Games
- Kabaddi Ball & Team Games
- Athletics Solo, Track & Pool
- Boxing Combat & Mat Sports
- Badminton Solo, Track & Pool
- Shooting Solo, Track & Pool
- Swimming Solo, Track & Pool
- Archery Solo, Track & Pool
- Weightlifting Combat & Mat Sports
- Table Tennis Solo, Track & Pool
- Basketball Ball & Team Games
- Volleyball Ball & Team Games
- Judo Combat & Mat Sports
- Taekwondo Combat & Mat Sports
- Wushu Combat & Mat Sports
- Fencing Combat & Mat Sports
- Gymnastics Solo, Track & Pool
- Cycling Solo, Track & Pool
- Kho-Kho Ball & Team Games
- Tennis Solo, Track & Pool
- Squash Solo, Track & Pool
- Rowing Solo, Track & Pool
- Canoe & Kayak Solo, Track & Pool
- Handball Ball & Team Games
- Karate Combat & Mat Sports
- Sepaktakraw Ball & Team Games
- Mallakhamb, Yogasana & Indian martial arts Solo, Track & Pool
- Golf Solo, Track & Pool
- Equestrian Solo, Track & Pool
- Sailing Solo, Track & Pool
- Triathlon Solo, Track & Pool
- Rugby Sevens Ball & Team Games
- Sport Climbing Solo, Track & Pool
- Surfing Solo, Track & Pool
- Skateboarding Solo, Track & Pool
- Modern Pentathlon Solo, Track & Pool
- Diving Solo, Track & Pool
- Water Polo Ball & Team Games
- Artistic Swimming Solo, Track & Pool
- Baseball & Softball Ball & Team Games
- Flag Football Ball & Team Games
- Lacrosse Ball & Team Games
- Breaking Solo, Track & Pool
- Kurash Combat & Mat Sports
- Ju-Jitsu Combat & Mat Sports
- MMA Combat & Mat Sports
- Powerlifting Combat & Mat Sports
- Bodybuilding Combat & Mat Sports
- Kathak Classical Performing Arts
- Bharatanatyam Classical Performing Arts
- Hindustani Music Classical Performing Arts
- Carnatic Music Classical Performing Arts
- All sports & performing arts Cockpit
- SAI, NIS & sports-quota guide Careers