IPL 2025: Retention-RTM Rules, Retention Cost, Team Purse and a New Financial Challenge for Franchises - All That We Know So Far

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IPL 2025 Retention: The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for a high-stakes Mega Auction ahead of the 2025 season, with significant updates regarding player retentions and the Right To Match (RTM) card.

As per the latest reports, IPL franchises will be allowed to retain up to five players and use one RTM during the upcoming auction, which is expected to take place in either November or December this year. The following decisions were reportedly taken at the IPL Governing Council Meeting in Bengaluru on Saturday (September 28).

Key Retention Rules for IPL 2025:

5 Retentions & 1 RTM Option: Franchises can retain up to five players and use one Right To Match card to re-acquire a player during the auction. Additionally, teams can adjust their retention and RTM strategy to fit their needs. They can either opt for 5 Retentions + 1 RTM or 4 Retentions + 2 RTMs, providing greater flexibility in building their squads.

No Cap on Indian and Overseas Retentions: Unlike previous IPL editions, where restrictions were placed on the number of Indian and overseas players a team could retain, IPL 2025 will have no such cap. This opens up opportunities for franchises to retain a mix of their top Indian and overseas stars.

Retention Costs: Retaining players comes at a hefty price for the franchises. The first retention will cost ₹18 crore, followed by ₹14 crore for the second, ₹11 crore for the third, ₹18 crore for the fourth, and ₹14 crore for the fifth. If a team retains all five players, they will see ₹75 crore deducted from their purse, leaving them with just ₹45 crore to buy the remaining squad, including any potential RTM players.

Increased Team Purse to ₹120 Crore: To balance the retention deductions, the total purse for each team has been increased to ₹120 crore for IPL 2025. Despite this, teams that retain five players will be left with significantly less money to bid on new players during the auction.

Impact on Auction Strategy

The increased cost of player retention has sparked debate among franchises, especially those looking to retain their star players without hampering their auction budgets. A source familiar with the situation explained that the BCCI deliberately introduced steep deductions for the fourth and fifth retentions to create a level playing field among teams.

"Teams can go ahead and retain five players, but with less than ₹50 crore left for the auction, the competition will get fierce. Some teams may opt for only three retentions to ensure they have enough purse value to bid on marquee players and strengthen their squad," PTI was told by a BCCI official.

For example, if Mumbai Indians decide to retain stars like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Tilak Varma, they will have ₹75 crore deducted from their purse. With just ₹45 crore left, they would face tough decisions if they wish to use their RTM card for a player like Ishan Kishan, whose auction price could soar.

BCCI Balancing Star Power and Squad Depth

Franchises like Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with established star power, are reportedly in favour of retaining six to eight players. However, smaller teams or those with fewer marquee names may prioritize squad depth, leveraging the auction to build competitive lineups.

In a scenario where a team retains only three players, they would have more star players entering the auction pool, which could benefit teams with lesser depth. These franchises could bid aggressively to "set their house in order" by acquiring top players who were not retained by bigger teams.

RTM Rule Returns in IPL 2025 Auction

The Right To Match (RTM) card, which was last used in IPL 2018, is making a comeback for IPL 2025. It allows teams to match the highest bid for a player they had in their previous squad, giving them a second chance to retain valuable talent. However, teams will have to balance their purse carefully as retaining a player through RTM will further deplete their budget for the remaining auction.

Financial Incentives for Uncapped Players

In a notable update, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced via social media an increase in match fees for uncapped Indian players. An uncapped player who plays just three IPL matches could earn ₹42.5 lakh in a single season, including a base salary of ₹20 lakh and ₹22.5 lakh in match fees. This stands in stark contrast to the ₹24 lakh earned by a player participating in 10 Ranji Trophy games, highlighting the financial lure of the IPL.