IPL 2025 Auction: What is the Right-To-Match (RTM) Card?

IPL 2025 auction: The most exciting event IPL 2025 mega auction has begun, with all 10 teams preparing to complete their squads for the upcoming season. This two-day event, held every three years, is set to feature intense bidding wars for top players.

This year IPL mega auction is taking place in the beautiful city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from November 24 and November 25 at the impressive Abadi Al Johar Arena. The decision to host the event overseas is a big change, with Jeddah winning out over other potential venues like Dubai and London.

The massive 15,000-seat stadium provides the perfect setting for the auction, while team representatives will stay at the luxurious Shangri-La Hotel. As the cricket world eagerly watches, the focus is on how the 10 IPL franchises will strengthen their squads for the upcoming season.

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A total of 577 players are in the fray, including 367 Indians and 210 overseas cricketers. The franchises have 204 slots to fill, including 70 designated for overseas players. By the auction's conclusion, each team must assemble a squad of at least 18 players. In a big move, Punjab Kings bought former Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer for a record ?26.75 crore, making him the most expensive Indian player in IPL history.

Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh became the first player to be sold during the auction. His previous team, Punjab Kings, used the Right-To-Match (RTM) card to keep him after a tough bidding battle with other teams like Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Rajasthan Royals.

The IPL 2025 auction has created a buzz, especially with the introduction of the RTM card rule, which adds a fresh layer of excitement to the event.

What is the Right-To-Match (RTM) Card in IPL?

The Right-To-Match (RTM) card is a special feature in the IPL auction that allows teams to keep players from their previous squad, even if other teams place a bid on them. Essentially, it gives a team the right to "match" the highest bid made by another team in the auction to keep their player.

The RTM card was first introduced in the IPL 2014 mega auction and has been part of the auction rules since then. It was also used in the 2018 auction but was removed for IPL 2022. Now, the RTM card is making a return for IPL 2025, with some important changes to the way it works.

IPL 2025 RTM Rule Explained

For the IPL 2025 auction, the RTM rule has been adjusted. Each of the 10 franchises can keep up to six players from their previous team, with a limit of five capped players and two uncapped Indian players. Teams that did not fully use their retention quota by the deadline on October 31 will be able to use their RTM cards during the auction.

For example, if a team keeps four players, they can use two RTM cards to bring back former players. However, the team still has to follow the rule of keeping no more than five capped and two uncapped players. So, if a team retains five capped players, they can only use the RTM card for an uncapped Indian player.

How Does the RTM Card Work in IPL 2025?

The RTM card allows a team to match the highest bid for one of their former players during the auction. In the past, a team could use the RTM card just once to keep a player. However, for IPL 2025, there is a new twist: Once a team uses the RTM card, the team that made the initial bid for the player has a final chance to increase their bid. If they raise their offer, the team that used the RTM card must match this new bid to keep the player. If the team does not match the new bid, the player will go to the team with the higher offer, and the team that used the RTM card will still keep it for later use.

This change makes the IPL 2025 auction even more thrilling, as teams will have to decide carefully when and how to use their RTM cards.

Why is the RTM Card Important for IPL 2025?

The RTM card is a valuable tool for teams looking to keep their star players. In a competitive auction like IPL 2025, the RTM card gives teams a chance to bring back key players who were important to their success in previous seasons. This makes the RTM card particularly important for IPL 2025, as teams aim to build the best squad possible.

The return of the RTM card adds an extra level of excitement to the auction and will keep fans on the edge of their seats. It ensures that the IPL 2025 auction will be full of surprises and clever moves as teams try to secure their preferred players.

The IPL 2025 auction is expected to be a memorable event, with the Right-To-Match (RTM) card playing a key role in the process. As the auction approaches, teams will be thinking carefully about how to use this powerful tool to improve their squads for the upcoming season.