IPL 2025 Auction: Teams to Finalize Player Retentions by October 31
Teams have until October 31 to finalize their player retentions ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. According to the rules announced by the governing council, franchises can retain a maximum of six players using a combination of direct retentions and the right-to-match (RTM) option. This includes up to five capped players (both Indian and overseas) and no more than two uncapped Indian players.
For retention purposes, any player who makes their international debut before October 31 will be classified as capped. However, if such a player is retained as an uncapped player and then debuts internationally before the auction, they will still be considered uncapped, with only INR 4 crore deducted from the team’s auction purse.
The purse for the mega auction has been increased by INR 20 crore, giving each franchise a budget of INR 120 crore (approximately USD 14.3 million). As with the mega auction before IPL 2022, the price for retaining uncapped players remains set at INR 4 crore.
Additionally, the IPL has reinstated a rule discarded in 2021, allowing Indian players who retired from international cricket at least five years prior to the relevant season to enter the auction as uncapped players. This change enables Chennai Super Kings to retain their former captain MS Dhoni, who last played an international match at the 2019 ODI World Cup, as an uncapped player.
The IPL has decided to keep the Impact Player rule, which has been in place since the 2023 season. This rule allows teams to substitute a first-XI player with a specialist batter or bowler based on match conditions, and it has generated considerable debate about its influence on Indian cricket and the development of all-rounders. During a meeting on July 31 with team owners and principals, most franchises supported the retention of the rule.
The IPL highlighted that nine of the ten highest totals in its history have been recorded since the introduction of the Impact Player rule. The IPL believes this rule has enhanced the entertainment value of matches, making the games more exciting for spectators.
Doubts Revealed
IPL -: IPL stands for Indian Premier League. It’s a big cricket tournament in India where teams from different cities compete.
Auction -: An auction is an event where teams bid money to buy players for their team. The highest bid wins.
Player Retentions -: Player retentions mean teams can keep some of their current players for the next season instead of letting them go to the auction.
Franchises -: Franchises are the teams in the IPL, like Mumbai Indians or Chennai Super Kings.
Capped -: Capped players are those who have played for the national team, like India.
Uncapped -: Uncapped players are those who have not yet played for the national team.
INR 120 crore -: INR stands for Indian Rupees. 120 crore is a big amount of money, equal to 1.2 billion rupees.
Retired Indian players -: These are players who used to play cricket for India but have stopped playing professionally.
Impact Player rule -: This rule allows teams to change players during a match based on the situation to make the game more exciting.
