The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for a significant shake-up ahead of the 2025 season with new retention rules and a larger auction purse. Franchises can now retain up to six players, and the right-to-match (RTM) option will be reintroduced at the auction. These changes are set against the backdrop of an increased auction purse of INR 120 crore (approximately US$14.33 million), a substantial hike of INR 20 crore from last year.
Each of the ten franchises will soon receive detailed retention guidelines, which specify that at least one of the six retained players must be an uncapped Indian. The remaining five can be a mix of Indian and overseas players. The six-player retention can be executed through a combination of direct retention and RTM options.
If a team chooses to retain five players, the purse deductions will be structured as follows:
- INR 18 crore, INR 14 crore, and INR 11 crore for the first three players,
- Followed by INR 18 crore and INR 14 crore for the fourth and fifth.
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This would leave a team with INR 75 crore deducted from their overall purse, allowing them to enter the auction with INR 45 crore. Notably, the cost for retaining an uncapped player remains unchanged at INR 4 crore, the same as in the 2021 mega auction. Therefore, if a franchise opts to retain six players, they will have INR 79 crore deducted, leaving them with only INR 41 crore for the auction.
BIG UPDATES FOR IPL RETENTIONS (Sports Tak):
– 5 Retention & 1 RTM.
– No cap on Indians and overseas.
– Teams will pay 75cr if they wish to retain all 5.
– Total purse is 120cr.
– Teams can adjust Retention and RTM as per their wish (1+5RTM or 2+4RTM).A BIG WAR INCOMING. ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/2cYhkAQdPA
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 28, 2024
A major talking point is the revival of an old rule allowing retired Indian players to be considered uncapped if they haven’t played international cricket for five years. This means that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could potentially retain MS Dhoni, their legendary former captain, as an uncapped player for just INR 4 crore.
This rule, initially introduced in 2008 but never used, was scrapped in 2021 and has now been reinstated. Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, could thus be a strategic retention for CSK, offering them more financial flexibility in the auction. The IPL has also decided to retain the Impact Player rule, despite mixed opinions among team owners and management.
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Introduced in 2023, this rule allows teams to substitute a player during a match based on the situation, favouring a specialist batter or bowler. It has led to some of the highest-scoring games in IPL history, making it a fan favourite. While some argue it hampers the development of all-rounders, the league believes it enhances the game’s excitement and entertainment value.
