Franchises still in dark on IPL 2025 retention rules as BCCI fails to meet deadline

Even as the IPL 2025 Auction approaches, franchises have no clue about the retention rules. On the sidelines of the franchise owners’ meeting in Mumbai, it was announced that BCCI would announce the IPL retention rules by the end of August. However, the deadline came and went but BCCI did not give any clarity. When the franchises reached out, the BCCI informed them that the rules would be announced by the end of September, perhaps on the sidelines of the BCCI AGM in Bengaluru on Sep 29.

“We have only heard from the BCCI that it will be delayed. We still don’t know about the number of retentions, the number of RTMs, or anything else regarding the IPL auction. There is no clarity on when exactly the auction will be,” a franchise official told InsideSport.

Questions franchises need answers to

• How many retentions?
• Will there be RTM?
• When is the IPL 2025 Auction?
• What is the rule for retired players?

Number of Retentions

The hotly debated retention number is still a matter of speculation. While the franchises want the number to be as high as eight, BCCI could make it 5 with 3 RTMs for IPL 2025 Auction. But with the BCCI officials busy in the Asian Cricket Council and International Cricket Council, a meeting has not taken place on that matter.

With two new members set to be elected in the IPL Governing Council during BCCI’s Annual General Meeting on Sep 29, the decision could be made in October. In any case, franchises will only have time till November 15 to finalise the retentions.

Furthermore, franchises may get a leeway in terms of deciding the price for the retained players. In the last mega auction, franchises were given four slabs to decide. That may not be the case anymore. And they may not need to disclose the price either.

RTM in IPL 2025 Auction?

In all likelihood, the RTMs or Right to Match the final bid price during the IPL 2025 Auction will return. While the number is not yet finalised, the board has hinted to the franchises that it will return after the 2018 auction.

“Look, we have only heard positive things about RTMs. But at this moment, we are not sure. I can only confirm what BCCI has officially conveyed to us (franchises). But the fact is, the BCCI has not confirmed anything to the teams. So, RTMs could be back or may not be depending on the number of retentions allowed,” the franchise official added.

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What about retired players in IPL?

Franchises like the Chennai Super Kings urged the BCCI to revive an old rule to consider retired players as uncapped players. With MS Dhoni retiring from international cricket like many others, he could be considered an uncapped player.

As per a Cricbuzz report, BCCI is considering classifying retired international cricketers as uncapped players. However, a final decision is yet to be made.

When is the IPL Auction?

As usual, the auction is set to happen in December. The date for that will be announced later. This time, the auction will be a two-day affair and could return to India, unlike last time when it happened in Dubai.

The trade window will remain open until seven days before the auction date. While the franchises are still in the negotiating phase for the trade-ins, they cannot make anything official until clarity from the BCCI.