IPL2025 : Mega Auction, know the new rules shared by BCCI

 

The retention rules for the IPL 2025 and the upcoming mega auction have finally been unveiled. Following a meeting of the IPL Governing Council, these rules were shared with all 10 franchises late Saturday evening. Several key decisions have been made, including the reintroduction of some old rules and the addition of new ones. One of the most intriguing updates pertains to players who are purchased in the auction but choose not to participate in the tournament. Such players will now be banned from playing for two seasons. Additionally, the franchise purse has been increased by INR 20 crore.

The Right to Match (RTM) card has also made a comeback in the auction process. It was last used in the 2017 mega auction but was omitted from the 2022 mega auction. Now, the RTM has returned, allowing franchises to repurchase a player during the auction. Once the bidding for a player is over, the player’s previous team has the option to match the final bid amount to retain the player. After at least three franchises expressed support for the RTM’s reintroduction, the IPL decided to bring it back. However, there is a new twist in the RTM process this time.

To protect player interests, the IPL has introduced a change in the RTM rule. Now, before exercising the RTM, the highest bidder will have one last chance to increase their bid. For example, if Team-1 holds an RTM for Player X and Team-2 has placed the highest bid of INR 6 crore, Team-1 will be asked if they wish to use their RTM. If Team-1 agrees, Team-2 can then raise their bid. If Team-2 increases the bid to INR 9 crore, Team-1 can use the RTM to buy Player X for INR 9 crore. If Team-2 chooses not to raise its bid, Team-1 can use the RTM and purchase Player X for INR 6 crore.

3. Auction Purse Increased by INR 20 Crore The auction purse has been increased to INR 120 crore, meaning each franchise will have INR 120 crore to build their team. After retentions are finalized, the remaining amount in the purse will be used in the mega auction. This is INR 20 crore more than the previous auction purse of INR 100 crore and is one of the most significant decisions by the IPL Governing Council.

Deduction from the Purse After Retentions If a franchise wishes to retain five capped players, the following deductions will apply:

For the first three retentions, INR 18 crore (Player 1), INR 14 crore (Player 2), and INR 11 crore (Player 3) will be deducted from the purse.

For the remaining two retentions, INR 18 crore (Player 4) and INR 14 crore (Player 5) will be deducted.

This means that a franchise retaining five capped players will lose INR 75 crore from their INR 120 crore purse before the auction begins.

For uncapped players, a maximum of INR 4 crore can be spent on retentions. This was also the case in the 2021 mega auction. Thus, a franchise retaining six players (including one uncapped player) will have INR 79 crore deducted from their purse, leaving them with just INR 41 crore for the mega auction.

Impact Player Rule Continues Despite objections from several franchises and former cricketers, the BCCI has decided to retain the Impact Player rule. Rohit Sharma had expressed concerns that this rule could hinder the development of all-rounders. However, the IPL has committed to keeping this rule in place until 2027. Introduced in 2023, this rule allows a team to substitute a player from the playing XI with a 12th player. The IPL believes this rule has advanced the league and enhanced viewer engagement, as nine of the top 10 highest scores in IPL history were recorded after the introduction of the Impact Player rule.

Injury Replacements and Player Loans Until IPL 2024, franchises were allowed to replace an injured player only before their seventh match of the season. From IPL 2025 onwards, teams can replace an injured player until their 12th match of the league stage. Additionally, while the player loan rule has not yet been utilized, the IPL has decided to reinstate this process, which can be activated only during the season.

MS Dhoni as an Uncapped Player Former CSK captain MS Dhoni, who led the team to five IPL titles, may enter the 2025 auction as an uncapped player. It was decided in the IPL’s top council meeting that any Indian player who has not represented the national team in the last five calendar years will be considered uncapped. As per the official IPL statement, any capped Indian player who hasn’t been part of the playing XI in international cricket (Test, ODI, or T20I) in the last five calendar years or doesn’t have a central contract with the BCCI will be classified as uncapped. This rule only applies to Indian players. This change means Dhoni, who last played for India in 2019, could now be categorized as an uncapped player for IPL 2025.

In a document shared with franchises regarding the retention rules, the IPL stated that any player who registers for the auction but makes themselves unavailable after being selected will be banned from participating in the next two IPL seasons or future auctions. The only exception will be for players who are injured or suffering from a medical condition, confirmed by their home board.

Increased Earnings for Players Players are set to earn more in IPL 2025. The BCCI has decided to pay each player INR 7.5 lakh per match. This will be in addition to their contracts with franchises, who will also pay players for each game they play during the season. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced this on X (formerly Twitter). Each franchise will allocate INR 12.60 crore as match fees for the season, separate from the auction purse. This amount covers the 12 players listed on the team sheet, paying them INR 90 lakh per match in total. Multiplied by 14 matches (the total number of league stage matches per team), the total sum reaches INR 12.6 crore.