ANNOUNCED: The retention rules for IPL 2025!

ANNOUNCED: The retention rules for IPL 2025!

Finally, the wait is over, Paltan! Let’s stop the speculation, shall we? The retention rules before the IPL 2025 mega auction are out. The fans have been eagerly waiting for the IPL Governing Council to announce this and here they are, as per the official release:

1. Number of retentions: The IPL franchises can retain a total of 6 players from their existing squad. This can be either via retention or by using the Right to Match (RTM) option.

2. Retention/RTM difference?: It is at the discretion of the IPL franchise to choose their combination for Retentions and RTMs. The 6 retentions / RTM’s can have a maximum of 5 capped players (Indian & Overseas) and a maximum of 2 uncapped players.

3. Salary cap: The auction purse for the franchises has been set at INR 120 Crore for IPL 2025. The total salary cap will now consist of auction purse, incremental performance pay and match fees. Previously in 2024, the total salary cap (auction purse + incremental performance pay) was Rs. 110 Crs which will now be Rs. 146 Crs (2025), Rs. 151 Crs (2026) and Rs. 157 Crs (2027).

4. Additional match fees: A match fee has been introduced for the first time in the history of IPL. Each Playing member (Including the Impact Player) will get a match fee of INR 7.5 Lakhs per match. This will be in addition to his contracted amount.

5. Overseas player registration rules: Any Overseas Player will have to register for the Big Auction. In case the overseas player doesn't register, then he will be ineligible to register in the following year’s player auction.

6. Picked but no show up?: Any player who registers in the player auction and after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for 2 Seasons.

7. The capped to uncapped journey: A capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI. This will be applicable for Indian Players only.

8. Impact substays: The Impact Player Regulation will continue for the 2025 to 2027 cycle.

Right then, the wait is over. We’re done with the suspense. Let’s start the speculation again, shall we?

IPL announces landmark retention and auction rules for 2025 season: Explained

The Indian Premier League Governing Council announced the Player regulations for the 2025 season as several landmark decisions were taken for the next three editions of the T20 extravaganza.

In Short

• Teams can retain a maximum of 6 players
• Maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players can be retained
• Impact Player Rule to continue till 2027

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council released the new player regulations for the upcoming mega auction ahead of the IPL 2025 on Saturday, September 28. There were several players major announcements made for the blockbuster season such as the player retention limits, increasing of the team’s purse value and the introduction of new match fees for every game.

Strict rules were also formed for the unplanned pullouts of the foreign players ahead of the season and the uncapped players rule was also re-introduced which makes any India player uncapped if he hasn't played international cricket in the preceding five years from the year of the next season. Here’s the complete list of the new player regulations for the IPL 2025:

1. The IPL franchises can retain a total of 6 players from their existing squad. This can be either via retention or by using the Right to Match (RTM) option.

1. It is at the discretion of the IPL franchise to choose their combination for Retentions and RTMs. The 6 retentions / RTM’s can have a maximum of 5 capped players (Indian & Overseas) and a maximum of 2 uncapped players.

1. The auction purse for the franchises has been set at INR 120 Crore for IPL 2025. The total salary cap will now consist of auction purse, incremental performance pay and match fees. Previously in 2024, the total salary cap (auction purse + incremental performance pay) was Rs. 110 Crs which will now be Rs. 146 Crs (2025), Rs. 151 Crs (2026) and Rs. 157 Crs (2027).

1. A match fee has been introduced for the first time in the history of IPL. Each Playing member (Including the Impact Player) will get a match fee of INR 7.5 Lakhs per match. This will be in addition to his contracted amount.

1. Any Overseas Player will have to register for the Big Auction. In case the overseas player doesn't register, then he will be ineligible to register in the following year’s player auction.

1. Any player who registers in the player auction and after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for 2 Seasons.

1. A capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI. This will be applicable for Indian Players only.

1. The Impact Player Regulation will continue for the 2025 to 2027 cycle.

The IPL Governing Council has introduced a new set of retention rules and player regulations ahead of the upcoming player auctions for the next edition of the tournament. With a majority of the franchises requesting the BCCI to allow as many retentions as possible, the IPL-GC has adhered to it. But unlike previous auctions, they have made changes, giving the franchises the option to retain as many six players, spicing up the auction dynamics.

What is the cap on overseas players’ fee at mini auctions?

With several overseas players choosing to skip big auctions and entering mini auctions to fetch big money, the IPL GC has brought in a new rule. All overseas players have to register for this year’s auction, failing which they will be ineligible for the next year’s mini auction. There is a cap on their fee at the mini auctions as well. The maximum fee an overseas player can stand to gain from the mini auction will be determined by the highest retention price (Rs 18 crore) or the highest auction price at the mega auction, whichever is lower. While the bidding at the auction table can go higher than this, the incremental amount will go to the BCCI.

How many players can a franchisee retain?

Six. But there is flexibility. Teams can retain up to five players and use the Right To Match (RTM) option once. But if they choose to retain only four players, then they can use the RTM twice. So if a franchise doesn’t retain a single player, it has the option to use RTM twice.

What is the cap on Indian and overseas players?

Unlike in 2022, when franchises could retain only two overseas players, they can retain a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players. A retained uncapped player will cost a franchise only Rs 4 crore and the BCCI has also brought back this rule: “A capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI.”

What is the cost of retained players?

Earlier, the value of each player retained used to decrease. As per the new regulations, this is how each retention will cost a franchise: No 1: Rs 18 crore, No 2: Rs 14 crore, No 3: Rs 11 crore, No 4: 18 crore, No 5: Rs 14 crore. In addition, they can also retain an uncapped player and forgo the RTM. But if they retain only 5, they will keep the RTM option available.

Franchises are also allowed to retain the players at a higher cost. But it will be deducted from their auction purse. For example: Mumbai Indians can retain Jasprit Bumrah even for Rs 20 crore. Rs 18 crore is the minimum bracketed value.

How many RTMs?

RTM option will depend on the number of retentions. But with the RTM not being popular among players as they can be undervalued, it has been included with a tweak. A franchise that owns the player will not have the final say. The highest bidder will be given one more opportunity to raise the bid, before the team holding the RTM claims the player.

When is the auction?

Originally posted by: heavenlybliss

When is the auction?

All my favs have retired 😕

Whom to support is the question ⁉️😕

The Bangalore team will retain Kohli and Green.

https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-videos/107301/ipl-2025-rcbs-likely-retentions-ft-kohli-green

IPL 2025: PBKS's likely retentions ft. Arshdeep, Rabada

https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-videos/107543/ipl-2025-pbkss-likely-retentions-ft-arshdeep-rabada

IPL 2025: CSK's likely retentions ft. Dhoni, Ruturaj Sat, Oct 05 2024/

Will MS Dhoni play his 265th IPL game as an 'uncapped' player? Who's the first-choice retention between Jadeja & Ruturaj? Find out right here.

https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-videos/107229/ipl-2025-csks-likely-retentions-ft-dhoni-ruturaj