The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided that IPL franchises can retain a total of six players from their existing squad. The franchise can either do it via retention or by using Right to match (RTM) options. The IPL is scheduled to go for another round of mega auction.
The deck has also been cleared for the likes of MS Dhoni to play as an uncapped player. The BCCI has made it clear that a capped Indian player will become uncapped if he has not played in the starting XI in international cricket in any format in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant season is held. Or if he does not have a central contract with the BCCI. The rule will benefit players like Dhoni as he retired from international cricket in 2020. The board has also decided to retain impact player rule for 2025-2027 IPL cycle.
Most of the franchises had asked the Indian board to retain 5-6 players so that they can build their brand and ensure continuity. “It is at the discretion of the IPL franchise to choose their combination for Retentions and RTMs. The six retentions / RTM’s can have a maximum of 5 capped players (Indian & Overseas) and a maximum of 2 uncapped players,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah informed in a statement after IPL general council met in Bengaluru on Saturday.
NEWS 🚨 – IPL Governing Council announces TATA IPL Player Regulations 2025-27.
READ – https://t.co/3XIu1RaYns #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/XUFkjKqWed
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) September 28, 2024
The Indian board has set the auction purse for the franchises at 120 crore rupees for IPL 2025. It’s an increase of 20 crores from the last auction. “The total salary cap will now consist of auction purse, incremental performance pay and match fees. Previously in 2024, the total salary cap (auction purse + incremental performance pay) was Rs. 110 Crs which will now be Rs. 146 Crs (2025), Rs. 151 Crs (2026) and Rs. 157 Crs (2027),” the statement added.
In another decision the board has introduced match fees of 7.5 lakhs for the first time in its T20 IPL cricket history. Thus far the franchise only used to pay auction money to each player.
The board has also taken action on franchises’ complaints about foreign players deciding to opt out after the auction process. “Any player who registers in the player auction and after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for 2 Seasons,” the statement reads.
