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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a significant announcement regarding the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, allowing franchises to retain up to five players. This landmark decision is set to reshape the dynamics of team compositions and player contracts in the upcoming season.
Key Changes in Player Retention Rules
Franchises will now have the opportunity to retain a maximum of five players, a move that marks the highest retention limit in IPL history. Each team will also have the option to utilize one Right to Match (RTM) card, which allows them to match any bid for a player during the auction. Notably, there will be no restrictions on the number of Indian or foreign players that can be retained, providing franchises with greater flexibility in maintaining their core teams.
The retention slabs for IPL 2025 are structured as follows:
- 1st Retention: ₹18 crores
- 2nd Retention: ₹14 crores
- 3rd Retention: ₹11 crores
- 4th Retention: ₹18 crores
- 5th Retention: ₹14 crores
This structured approach not only incentivizes teams to keep their star players but also ensures that financial considerations are balanced across franchises.
Historical Context
In the last mega auction in 2022, teams were allowed to retain only four players. As the three-year cycle concluded, opinions among franchises varied widely regarding retention numbers for the upcoming auction. Some teams expressed a desire to retain as many as eight players, while others were comfortable with retaining four or five.
Ultimately, the IPL Governing Council has settled on allowing five retentions along with one RTM card, resolving the debate among franchises. The previous retention policies saw teams allowed to keep three players with two RTM cards in 2018 and four players without RTM in 2022. The return of an RTM card alongside five retentions marks a significant shift in strategy for IPL teams.
IPL 2025 Auction: Team Purses Set for Expansion Amid New Retention Rules
In addition to the retention changes, the overall franchise purse has increased significantly to ₹120 crores, allowing teams more financial leeway during the auction. This increase is expected to influence how franchises strategize their player contracts and budget allocations moving forward.
Introduction of Match Fees
In a groundbreaking move, the BCCI has also announced that players participating in the IPL will receive a match fee of ₹7.5 lakhs per game. This initiative aims to reward outstanding performances and provide additional financial incentives for players. For instance, a player participating in all league matches could earn up to ₹1.05 crores in match fees alone, supplementing their contracted amounts.
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah emphasized this initiative on social media, stating:
“In a historic move to celebrate consistency and champion outstanding performances in the #IPL, we are thrilled to introduce a match fee of INR 7.5 lakhs per game for our cricketers!”
This development is expected to enhance player motivation and performance levels within the league. While specific dates and venues for the IPL 2025 auction have yet to be confirmed by the IPL Governing Council, reports suggest it may take place outside India, with Saudi Arabia emerging as a likely host. The governing body is expected to finalize details soon as franchises prepare for this new era in IPL history.
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