With just a week to go before the IPL 2025 retention deadline (Oct 31), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has updated guidelines. In the new IPL 2025 retention rules, BCCI has taken away the “more for less” rule. Now, if a franchise pays a player Rs 20 crore, that exact amount will be deducted from the Rs 120 cr salary purse as per a report in The Hindu.
Until the last mega auction in 2022, BCCI followed the price bracket rule. For example, Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained Virat Kohli for Rs 17 crore back in 2022. However, only Rs 15 cr was deducted from the salary purse. However, the IPL 2025 retention rule has a new update. Now, if RCB retain Virat Kohli for 20 crore, the exact amount will be deducted from the salary purse.
IPL 2025 retention rules: More power to players
Retained players can now negotiate a better contract with the salary purse increasing from Rs 110 to Rs 120. To give more power to the players, BCCI has removed the salary cap for retained players. The new retention rule will provide a competitive balance across teams as it ensures that the retention of marquee players comes with a higher financial cost.
Franchises will now need to be more strategic when deciding which players to retain. The deductions will directly impact their available budget for the IPL 2025 auction. This is particularly important for franchises that have a strong core of players like Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders among others.
Modified RTM rule
The RTM or Right to Match final bid price will also have a greater impact on star players. As per the RTM rule, a franchise can use the option to retain a player who they have released ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. But there is a catch. In the modified RTM rule, the team which has placed the highest bid will have a one-time option to raise their bid.
Example: Let’s say, Mumbai Indians release Rohit Sharma ahead of the auction. Now, Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the bid at Rs 20 crore:
Old RTM rule: MI decide to use the RTM card and retain Rohit for Rs 20 crore. RCB will have no say in this.
New RTM rule: As per the new rule, even though MI decide to use RTM, RCB can place another final bid of let’s say Rs 25 Cr. Now, if MI decide to match that Rs 25 Cr bid, Rohit will remain with MI. But if MI refuse, Rohit will be an RCB player.
Retention Slots and the Impact on Team Composition
The IPL has limited the number of players that can be retained, but the rules around slots have also been adjusted. Teams can now retain up to 4 players, but the distribution between capped and uncapped players will significantly affect the final auction strategy.
If a franchise chooses to retain more capped players, their auction strategy may lean toward filling the squad with younger, uncapped talent, balancing experience with potential.
IPL 2025 Auction strategies: How teams will adapt?
With stricter retention rules, the IPL 2025 auction will become more aggressive. Franchises like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, who traditionally rely on retaining a strong core, will need to rethink how they approach the auction.
Right mix of experience and emerging talent
Under the revised rules, franchises will focus on a mix of veteran players and younger prospects. For example, retaining top-tier players like Jasprit Bumrah or Virat Kohli will come at a higher cost. That will force the franchises to look for emerging talents at lower prices. This allows for a balanced squad with both seasoned match-winners and future stars.
Teams that prioritise uncapped players can take advantage of their lower retention cost. That way, teams can use the majority of their auction purse to acquire star foreign players or experienced Indian cricketers. This strategy could be helpful for franchises with strong scouting networks.
Price Adjustments and player slot revisions
Another notable change is the adjustment in player slot allocations. Teams can retain a maximum of 6 players from the 2024 squad. However, for the first time, franchises do not need to think about capped Indian or overseas players. BCCI has removed the requirement from the IPL 2025 retention rule. Instead, franchises can retain all capped foreign players or all Indians.
But the total number of 6 retentions must include at least 1 uncapped player. A franchise can retain a maximum of two uncapped players in the six-player quota.
