IPL 2025: All you need to know about Player Retention, Team Purse, RTM and Impact Player rules ahead of the mega auction.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council (GC) meeting has been at the forefront of cricketing excitement and innovation, and recent developments have only added to its allure. After much anticipation and numerous speculations, the IPL GC convened a meeting in Bengaluru to announce the retention rules for the upcoming IPL 2025 auction.
Teams can retain up to 6 players
One of the most significant announcements from the meeting is that each franchise can retain up to six players before the IPL 2025 auction. This gives teams considerable flexibility in managing their rosters. Teams can opt to retain six players outright or use the Right to Match (RTM) option strategically during the auction. For instance, if a team chooses to retain three players directly, they can then use RTM on an additional three, ensuring that the total number of retentions and RTMs does not exceed six.
The guidelines surrounding player retention have also been refined. Each team can retain a maximum of five capped players, but at least one must be an uncapped player if they choose to retain six. Importantly, there is no limit on the number of India or overseas players a team can retain, allowing franchises to tailor their squads based on their unique strategies and needs.
Auction purse and match fee
In terms of financial resources, the auction purse has seen a significant increase from INR 100 crore to INR 120 crore. The overall salary cap will comprise the auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees. As a result, the salary cap will be INR 146 crore for IPL 2025, escalating to INR 151 crore in 2026 and INR 157 crore in 2027.
In an exciting new development, the IPL has also introduced a match fee of INR 7.5 lakh per game. Players participating in all league matches stand to earn an additional INR 1.05 crore on top of their contracted fees, a significant enhancement from previous seasons where no match fees were offered.
Strict rules for players opting out
For overseas players, a new mandate requires them to register for the mega auction. This is a strategic move designed to ensure that only those who are genuinely interested in participating are eligible for selection. If a player registers for the mega auction and gets picked, he must make himself available for that season. If a player makes himself unavailable after being sold, he will be banned from participating in the auction or playing in the tournament for two seasons.
This decision is aimed at preventing situations like those witnessed with players such as Jason Roy and Adam Zampa, who pulled out of the league at the last moment, causing significant disruption.
Capped and uncapped players
An additional rule has been introduced to categorise players based on their national representation. If a player has not played for India or does not hold a BCCI central contract for five consecutive years leading up to the relevant IPL season, they will be treated as an uncapped player. This reinstatement, which had previously been in place before the IPL 2022 auction, could have significant implications for franchises.
Notably, it has been speculated that this rule may allow the Chennai Super Kings to retain the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The retention cost for an uncapped player will be INR 4 crore. Hence, CSK, even if they retain Dhoni, can surely save a lot for the auction.
Impact player rule to continue
The IPL governing council has also decided to maintain the Impact Player rule through the 2027 season, despite some concerns expressed by prominent figures like Rohit Sharma. The Impact Player rule enables teams to substitute a player from the starting eleven with a specialist batter or bowler during the match, depending on the match situation. While this rule has sparked divided opinions—especially regarding its impact on the role of all-rounders—its implementation has led to some of the highest-scoring games in IPL history, with teams frequently surpassing totals of 220 and even 250 in the 2024 season.
Some franchises, like the Delhi Capitals, raised objections, fearing that the rule diminishes the value of all-rounders who contribute both with bat and ball. Nevertheless, the IPL has decided to retain this innovative feature, aiming to keep the league exciting and adaptable to evolving cricketing strategies.
Read More: IPL 2024: KKR reaped rich rewards courtesy Gautam Gambhir's immense belief in 'winning mentality'
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