Explained: Retention rules, franchise purse, match fee component and RTM rule for IPL 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has revealed new IPL regulations for the 2025-2027 seasons, allowing franchises to retain up to six players through either retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option ahead of the mega auction.?

This new structure permits a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players per franchise. Notably, the BCCI has also updated the criteria for uncapped status, meaning players like MS Dhoni, who have not played international cricket in the past five years or do not hold a central contract, will be classified as uncapped.

Franchise auction purse and 'match fees' component

Each of the ten IPL franchises will now have an auction purse of ?120 crore for the 2025 season. This represents a significant increase from the previous year, especially with the addition of a match fee component.?

In 2024, the total salary cap was ?110 crore, which included the auction purse and incremental performance pay. For the 2025 season, the salary cap has risen to ?146 crore, thanks to the newly introduced match fees.

For the first time in IPL history, the BCCI has incorporated match fees into the financial structure of the league. According to the board’s press release, "Each Playing member (including the Impact Player) will get a match fee of ?7.5 Lakhs per match.?

This will be in addition to his contracted amount." With this change, the new salary cap formula now consists of the auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees.

Furthermore, the BCCI has announced plans to increase the salary cap even more in future seasons. For IPL 2026, the cap will rise to ?151 crore, and for IPL 2027, it will further increase to ?157 crore.?

BCCI Secretary Jay Shah clarified the match fee component on social media, stating that each franchise will allocate ?12.60 crores for match fees throughout the season. He noted that a cricketer participating in every league match could earn an additional ?1.05 crore on top of their contracted amount.

Understanding the RTM rule for IPL 2025

The IPL 2025 auction also features a revised Right to Match (RTM) rule, adding a new dimension to the bidding process. Under the previous system, a team could use an RTM card to automatically secure a player they had released, irrespective of the bidding price.?

The new rule modifies this by giving the highest bidder a final opportunity to increase their bid before the RTM cardholder can exercise their right.

This change means that if a team holding an RTM card aims to acquire a player already under consideration by another team, they must be ready to match any increased bid that arises. This dynamic could lead to more competitive bidding and potentially higher prices for highly sought-after players.

The regulations were finalized during an IPL Governing Council meeting held in Bengaluru and were subsequently shared with the public through a press release. The upcoming mega auction is anticipated to take place in the latter half of November 2023, possibly at an overseas location, likely in the Gulf region.

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