IPL Governing Council Approves Retention Rules with Caps for 2025 Mega Auction
The IPL Governing Council has approved new retention rules that will impact how franchises build their squads for the upcoming 2025 mega auction. The decision, made during a meeting in Bangalore, allows each team to retain up to six players, including the Right-to-Match (RTM) options. This move positions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) favourably, as they can retain their iconic captain, MS Dhoni.
Retention Rules Favor CSK
According to Chandramouli Nilakantan, CEO of TRA Research, the retention rules give CSK the flexibility to retain Dhoni due to his iconic status and the team’s existing core structure. “CSK can maintain their senior players while adhering to the new guidelines, including managing the salary cap,” Nilakantan explained. This will help CSK keep its core intact, but it also presents challenges for other franchises that need to balance between retaining top players and staying within budget limits.
Balancing Retentions and Salary Cap
Under the new retention guidelines, teams are allowed to retain a maximum of six players, which must include at least one uncapped Indian player. Teams have the flexibility to choose between Indian and overseas players for the remaining slots. However, only up to two uncapped players can be retained, adding complexity to team strategies.
Despite a larger auction purse of Rs. 120 crore, teams face a cap on player retention, making it difficult for franchises to retain expensive or aging stars. This will likely force teams to make tough decisions during the auction as they balance financial constraints with their desire to keep key players.
RTM and Uncapped Player Rules
One key feature reintroduced in the 2025 auction is the Right-to-Match (RTM) option. This allows franchises to match the highest bid for one of their released players. The IPL did not allow RTM cards in the 2022 auction to provide new teams, such as Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, a larger pool of players.
For uncapped players, the retention cap remains at Rs. 4 crore. Additionally, Indian players who retired from international cricket at least five years ago can enter the auction as uncapped players, meaning CSK could potentially retain Dhoni for Rs. 4 crore.
Financial Implications of Retentions
The retention costs for players are also tiered. The first three retained players will be priced at Rs. 18 crore, Rs. 14 crore, and Rs. 11 crore, respectively. Retaining a fourth or fifth player will cost the franchise Rs. 18 crore and Rs. 14 crore. If a team decides to retain five players, a total of Rs. 75 crore will be deducted from their auction purse, leaving them with Rs. 45 crore to fill the rest of the squad.
Auction Dates and Locations
The IPL Governing Council has offered franchises two potential windows for the 2025 mega auction – either the second week of November or the third week of December. Abu Dhabi is considered the most likely venue, with Doha and Muscat serving as backup options.
Conclusion
While the IPL Governing Council has granted franchises more flexibility with higher retentions, the salary cap and retention rules present significant challenges. Teams will need to make strategic choices when retaining players, especially when managing expensive contracts and older stars. CSK is in a strong position to retain Dhoni and other key players, but other teams face a more difficult path in balancing their squads for the 2025 mega auction.(live score cricket ipl)