IPL Auction: 5 player retentions and no RTM card option? BCCI looks to protect brand identity of teams

As many have speculated, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is reportedly going to allow franchises to retain as many as five players but there will be no Right-to-match (RTM) card option in the 2025 mega auction. The decision to allow IPL teams to retain as many as five players will help the franchises retain some of their best players and the main core as they look to build for the future in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

‘Protect brand value’

As per a report in the Indian Express, BCCI decided to allow IPL teams to retain at least five players after their discussion with 10 IPL teams in which franchises even asked for retaining as many as six players as it would allow them to pursue a talent they have invested in. BCCI feels that allowing IPL teams to retain five players will help them protect their brand value as a few players have carved out an identity with their respective teams.

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There’s however no clarity on how many of the five players need to be Indian. For example in the last mega auction in 2022, IPL teams were allowed to retain a maximum of three Indian players out of four.

Another major topic of discussion during BCCI’s meet with IPL teams was the demand to hold mega auctions only after four to five seasons so that they get enough time with the players they have developed. Currently, there’s no news on this front and it will be interesting to see what BCCI says in their regard. There’s also a possibility that the Indian cricket board may not take any major decision on this topic at this moment.

Auction rules expected soon

Nonetheless, retaining five players will come as good news for franchises who have a strong core from before like Mumbai Indians who can now retain all their top players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. Even a team like Chennai usper Kings will be able to retain MS Dhoni plus their youngsters who are seen as the future at the franchise.

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The BCCI is expected to come out with the IPL retention rule by the end of this week so that franchises can prepare their auction strategies in time. The date for the auction is still not out but earlier it was reported that it could be hosted outside India at the end of November .