IPL Mega Auction Every 5 Years, 8 RTMs & 4 to 6 Retentions on Franchises Wishlist Ahead of IPL 2025

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Indian Premier League franchises are reportedly set to ask for a longer gap between mega auctions, allowance of more retentions along with a bigger number of Right to Match (RTM) options at the upcoming meeting with the BCCI.

BCCI had earlier confirmed that the IPL 2025 auction will be a mega one like in 2022 with only a maximum of four players allowed to be retained by each franchise. However, some teams were unhappy with the number of retentions, demanding for eight instead of the four.

Now a report from ESPN Cricinfo has said the franchises will have even more demands with respect to the auction during the meeting with BCCI scheduled for later this month.

According to the report, some franchises want the mega auction cycle to be extended from three to five years as that allows them to build a team and develop young Indian uncapped players.

A Mega Auction was first held in 2018 and then in 2022 in a four-year gap, but the two-day auction is set to return after just three years this time ahead of the IPL 2025 season. The auction is likely to be held at the end of this year or at the start of 2025.

Meanwhile, the other demand is to increase the retention from 4 to 6 players along with the option to use a RTM for a maximum of 8 players. All this and more will be up for discussion when the IPL franchises representatives meet with the BCCI.

Some teams like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders will hugely benefit if the retention number is expanded, but like most teams they will still need to convince the player to stay for the offered contract with salary cap also likely to be introduced this year.

Regarding RTMs, there was one interesting suggestion by one of the franchises' CEO, who said the teams should be allowed to retain only a big player like the captain and the rest can be bought back with the Right To Match card at the auction.

"Such an approach would allow the market to determine a player's price, and also remove any monetary disappointment a player may have if they are last in the retention pecking order," the report from Cricinfo further stated.

"While such a combination is favoured by some franchises, at least one team official said it had potential to cause disgruntlement among the players retained ahead of the auction, if those bought back via the RTM option happened to secure higher bids."

Apart from the auction dynamics, including the purse and salary caps, the discussion about the Impact Player rule will also be held during the IPL franchises with the BCCI on either July 30 or 31.