Retention IPL 2025: How many players can a team retain? Auction rules, team budgets, RTM explanation

Latest update:October 31, 2024 09:55 IST

As we approach the IPL hold deadline, here is a brief explanation of the entire hold process ahead of the IPL mega auction.

MS Dhoni has dropped a big hint about his future in the IPL. (Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL)

The awaited day has finally arrived as all 10 IPL teams are expected to hand over their player lists for preservation ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction to be held later this year.

So, here is a brief explanation of the entire storage process ahead of the IPL mega auction.

How does saving work?

Under the Right to Match (RTM) option, IPL teams will now be given the option to retain 6 of their favorite players from their latest squad for the upcoming seasons either before the October 31st deadline or even at the Mega Auction table. myself.

What is RTM?

Match rights are a system that allows a team to buy back its players during a mega auction. If a team does not list any holds before the deadline, they will enter the auction with 6 RTM. But if the team decides to retain in advance, then it will have RTM (6 retained players) at the time of the IPL mega auction.

How many players can each IPL team retain?

Six players from each of the 10 IPL teams in the 2024 squad can be retained, of which a maximum of five can be Indian or international players and two can be Indian unrestricted players.

What is a no-limit player?

Any cricketer who has not yet made his debut for his national team in any format is considered an “uncapped player”.

Additionally, any former Indian player who has not represented the country for more than 5 years in any format (T20, ODI, Test) and does not have a central contract with the BCCI will also be considered an uncapped player. .

What is the total budget/amount for each team?

The auction purse for franchises has been set at INR 120 crore for IPL 2025, which is different from INR 110 crore last year. The overall salary cap will now consist of the auction purse, additional performance awards and match fees.

How much does it cost to retain a player?

There are set costs for retaining cap players and they are as follows:

First cap player retention: ₹18 crore.

Retention of second capped player: ₹14 crore.

Retention of third capped player: ₹11 crore.

Retaining fourth capped player: ₹18 crore.

Retention of fifth capped player: ₹14 crore.

For every remaining uncapped Indian player, the team will lose INR 4 crore from its budget.

There is also no limit on the number of foreign players a team can retain.

Changes to the RTM process

After a team bids on a player and the previous franchise uses RTM to match the bid, the highest bidder is given one last chance to increase the bid before the player is transferred to the original team using RTM.

What if a team spends more or less than the aforementioned retention amount to retain a player?

If a team pays more than his retained value, for example, capped player 3 is retained for INR 14 Crores (4 Crores more than the value of INR 11 Crores), then 14 Crores will be forfeited.

In case the team pays less than the retained value, for example capped player 2 is retained for INR 12 Crores (2 Crores less than the amount of INR 14 Crores), INR 14 Crores will be deducted from the purse.

Can the funds used be distributed evenly among the remaining players?

In case the franchise decides to retain 5 cap players, then the total amount of money being (18+14+11+18+14) INR 75 Crores can certainly be divided in various proportions, equal or not, within saved players with a limited limit if the saved players agree to this.

What is the deadline and holding time of IPL 2025?

The 10 teams must complete their reserves for IPL 2025 by the deadline of 5:00 pm IST on Thursday, October 31.