The deadline for IPL franchises to finalize their player retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 auction has been set for October 31, 2024. Each team can retain a maximum of six players, utilizing the right-to-match (RTM) option.
According to the BCCI’s regulations, franchises are allowed to retain up to five capped players and two uncapped Indian players prior to the auction. Notably, any player who makes their international debut before October 31 will be classified as capped. If such a player is retained as uncapped but participates in an international match before the auction day, they will still be considered uncapped.
Additionally, the budget for this year’s mega auction has been increased by INR 20 crore, raising each franchise’s total to INR 120 crore. The IPL has outlined that franchises have the discretion to select their retention and RTM combinations within these limits. Retained uncapped players will be valued at INR 4 crore, consistent with the pricing established in IPL 2022.
Retention Rules and Player Eligibility
Another important regulation is that Indian players who have retired from international cricket at least five years prior to the relevant season will be categorized as uncapped in the auction. This provision enables players like MS Dhoni, who last represented India in the ODI World Cup 2019, to enter the auction as an uncapped player.
The retention of capped players will affect the franchises’ available budgets, as their salaries will be deducted from the INR 120 crore purse. Consequently, if a franchise retains a greater number of capped players, it will have a reduced budget for the auction. This retention policy is crucial as it shapes the teams’ strategies leading up to the auction, influencing both player availability and salary allocations.
The IPL’s announcement emphasizes that the franchises have the flexibility to decide their retention strategies while adhering to the established player categories and financial constraints.
With the stakes high for IPL 2025, teams are expected to evaluate their player rosters carefully as they prepare for the upcoming auction, aiming to build competitive squads for the next season. As the deadline approaches, the cricket community is keenly observing how teams will navigate this retention process.
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