The Indian Premier League (IPL) is considering a new retention model that would allow franchises to retain five players each and use one right-to-match (RTM) card during the upcoming IPL 2025 auction. This proposal is expected to be approved soon as the IPL governing council finalizes retention rules, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
Unconfirmed Retention Details
While the exact number of Indian players eligible for retention remains unconfirmed, it is still unclear whether there will be any restrictions on retaining overseas players or what the retention slabs will be. The overall purse for the auction is anticipated to be around INR 115-120 crore.
If the IPL governing council approves the 5 + 1 retention model, it will mark the highest number of retentions allowed in the tournament’s history. In 2017, prior to the mega auction for IPL 2018, teams were allowed five retentions, which included a combination of direct retentions and RTM cards, with a cap on the number of Indian players.
The RTM card, which allows franchises to match the highest bid for a player during the auction, was removed before the 2022 mega auction. During that auction, existing teams could retain a maximum of four players each, while the two new franchises, Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, could select three players beforehand. The purse for the 2022 auction was set at INR 90 crore.
Although the IPL has indicated that the player auction may occur in late November, the finalization of retention rules has been delayed. During a meeting in July, franchises discussed the RTM card, with some favoring up to eight RTMs, while others opposed the idea.