IPL 2025 retention rules: 6 retentions and RTM with total purse of Rs 146 crore
The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council officially outlined the retention rules and key regulations ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction.
Following a detailed discussion held with all ten franchises in Bengaluru on Saturday, September 28. A major decision finalized during the meeting was the retention policy for IPL teams. As per the new rules, each franchise will be allowed to retain up to six players ahead of the 2025 mega-auction. This is an increase from the previous mega auction in 2022, where teams were allowed to retain a maximum of four players.
The retentions can be made via direct retentions or using the Right to Match (RTM) card during the auction. Notably, the RTM card allows teams to match the highest bid for a player they had previously released ahead of the auction. Whichever way the team decides to retain their players, they can do so for a maximum of six players. Teams will be granted one RTM card for each retention slot they don’t use ahead of the auction from the prescribed limit of six players.
For example, if a team chooses to retain just three players instead of six, they will be given three Right to Match cards for the mega auction. There are no prescribed limits on Indian and foreign retentions and teams can name as many Indian and foreign players amongst their six retentions. However, teams can choose to retain only a maximum of five capped players and a maximum of two uncapped players.
Impact Player Rule will continue till 2027
From the next season onwards, the governing council has also introduced a match-fee of INR 7.5 Lakhs for all the players. Hence, the players will be earning INR 7.5 Lakh per match along with their auction value during the season. For this, all the ten franchises will be adding INR 12.60 Crore to their purse value. The total purse value for each team has been also increased from INR 110 crore from the last edition to INR 146 crore for the upcoming season which includes auction purse and incremental performance pay.
The amount will increase to INR 151 Crore in the 2026 season and INR 157 Crore for 2027 season. Overseas players making themselves unavailable before the start of the season after being picked in the auction will face a two-year ban from the tournament. The uncapped player rule has been also brought back which makes any Indian player uncapped if he hasn’t played international cricket for five years from the beginning of the next season. Furthermore, the Impact Player Rule which became a high talking point in the previous season will continue till 2027.
The BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and the IPL Governing Council will soon reveal the details of the venue and date for the mega auction for the next season. The governing council framed all the retention rules after having a constructive dialogue with the owners of all ten franchises in July earlier this year.