As the excitement builds for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) season, the Governing Council has finalised a major decision that will shape the strategies of all franchises. Teams will now be allowed to retain up to five players, but this privilege comes at a steep cost. Each franchise that opts to retain all five players will have to allocate a massive Rs 75 crore from their overall auction purse, leaving them with limited funds for acquiring new talent at the auction.
Retention slabs for IPL 2025
- First 3 retentions: INR 18 crore, INR 14 crore, INR 11 crore
- Remaining 2 retentions: INR 18 crore, INR 14 crore
- Uncapped player retention: INR 4 crore
- Total cost for retaining 5 players: INR 75 crore
- Total cost for retaining 6 players: INR 79 crore
- Remaining purse for a team retaining 6 players: INR 41 crore
Right to Match Option still in play for IPL 2025 Auction
In addition to the retention policy, the IPL Governing Council has retained the Right to Match (RTM) option. This allows franchises to match the highest bid for one of their previously released players during the auction.
With one RTM card available, teams will have another opportunity to hold on to key players if needed, but they must be mindful of the financial impact these decisions will have on their overall auction strategy.
Match fees Introduced for IPL Players
In another major development, IPL players, both Indian and overseas, will now receive match fees for the first time in the league’s history. Each player will earn ₹7.5 lakh per game, with franchises collectively allocating ₹12.6 crore for the entire season’s match fees. This initiative, announced by BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, is seen as a step toward rewarding individual performances and ensuring that players are fairly compensated for their contributions.
Strategic Balancing act for franchises
With the retention policy and RTM in place, IPL franchises are faced with the challenge of balancing their budgets. If a team uses all five retentions, they will have significantly less to spend during the auction, which means they will need to be strategic in identifying key players they cannot afford to lose. This dynamic will create intense competition during the retention phase, as well as during the mega auction itself.
What’s ahead of IPL 2025 Auction?
As the IPL Governing Council wraps up its crucial meeting in Bengaluru, all eyes are on the franchises as they prepare for the high-stakes decisions ahead. With ₹75 crore potentially tied up in retentions and match fees in play, teams will need to carefully weigh their options to ensure they remain competitive for the next season. The auction promises to be a thrilling event, where the smartest strategies and sharpest decisions could make or break a franchise’s chances in IPL 2025.
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