IPL 2025 player retention rules: Teams allowed 5 retentions, one Right to Match option

The 10 IPL teams will be allowed six retentions each, including one Right to Match card, ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.

The IPL mega auction is slated to take place later this year. | Photo Credit: Sportzpics

Each of the 10 Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises can retain up to five cricketers — with no restriction on nationality — pre-auction ahead of the 2025 edition.

Besides, the Right to Match (RTM) card option has been reintroduced for the player auction, to be held later in the year.

The player retention rules were finalised by the IPL Governing Council during its meeting here on Saturday. Unlike in the past, though, the IPL authorities have devised a “pay more to retain more” policy.

According to a BCCI official privy to proceedings, the first three retentions will see the auction purse - finalised at Rs 120 crore for a team - being reduced by Rs 18 crore, 14 crore and Rs 11 crore, respectively. However, the two other additional retentions will cost more than the third.

The fourth and the fifth retentions will see a reduction of Rs. 18 crore and Rs. 14 crore, respectively.

It means a team will see its auction purse reduced by a whopping Rs. 75 crore on five players, with only Rs. 45 crore left in its kitty for the IPL auction.

Over and above these five retentions, one uncapped player — including those Indian cricketers who made their last international appearance five years ago — can be retained for a purse reduction of Rs 4 crore.

The GC finalised that if a team retains only two players before the auction, it can use RTM card up to four times.

The GC also introduced match fees of Rs 7.5 lakh for each of the 12 players in the league stage. The compensation will be over and above the contract fees for a player. The decision was announced by BCCI secretary Jay Shah through his social media handle.