The player auction is an integral part of the IPL (Indian Premier League). A chance for teams to shuffle their squads, and add star power to their roster in the form of both domestic and overseas players.
The beginning of the IPL in 2008 saw the arrival of player auctions, which changed the dynamics of the cricket landscape.
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Conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the process was created to add further excitement to the short form of the game whilst providing various franchises the opportunity to bid on the best players in the world in a bid for glory.
Settled over multiple days, the auction is where players are pooled together and sold to the highest bidder as per the IPL rules and regulations.
Teams are comprised of a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 25 in their squad, with no more than eight overseas players.
When is the IPL 2025 auction and what is a Mega Auction?
The 'Mega Auction' will take place in 2025, the chairman of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has confirmed. Each Mega Auction is held every three years, where teams get to change their team composition from its core.
The date and venue for the mega auction have yet to be revealed, and will be announced by the BCCI in due course.
How much money does each team get at IPL auction?
From 2024, each franchise in the IPL gets a budget of INR 100 Crore to assemble the best team that they see fit from all over the world (Capped and Uncapped Indian players as well as Overseas players).
Teams do not need to use the entirety of their INR 100 Crore, but rules stipulate that at least 75 percent (INR 75 Crore) must be allocated to players.
Franchises can spend 30-40 percent of their budget on the top five players.
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What are the different categories of player in the IPL auctions?
Capped Players
Are Indian players who have represented the country's senior team in any format at least once.
Uncapped players
Are Indian domestic players who are in the first-class circuit but have never represented India.
Non-Indian/Foreign/Overseas players
These players can fall under a capped, uncapped, or associate cricket nation from neighbouring countries.
It doesn't matter where players fall under and which category.
However, an IPL team can only hold a maximum of eight foreign players, with only four being allowed to field at one time.
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How many players are listed in the auction?
There is no limit on the amount of players listed at an IPL auction, with the number differing most years.
The amount of players listed is dependent on who signs up, provided the players have been approved by their respective countries/boards.
In 2018 there was 578 players up for grabs, according to Bleacher Report.
The following year the number dropped to 346.
What are the player retention policies in the IPL?
Each franchise is able to hold onto up to five players as a part of the pre-auction retention process in combination with the 'right-to-match' (RTM) policy.
Teams can only retain up to three Indian-capped players, up to two overseas and one uncapped Indian player.
RTM is an option teams can use on players that match a bid during the auction to ensure the player is retained.
The IPL retention rules and salary cap play a crucial role in shaping teams during the mega auction. Here are the key aspects set by the BCCI for player retention:
For 1 Player Retained:
- Player Number: 1
- Salary: INR 14 Crore
For 2 Players Retained:
- Player Number: 1
- Salary: INR 14 Crore
- Player Number: 2
- Salary: INR 10 Crore
- Total: INR 24 Crore
- Player Number: 1
For 3 Players Retained:
- Player Number: 1
- Salary: INR 15 Crore
- Player Number: 2
- Salary: INR 11 Crore
- Player Number: 3
- Salary: INR 7 Crore
- Total: INR 33 Crore
- Player Number: 1
For 4 Players Retained:
- Player Number: 1
- Salary: INR 16 Crore
- Player Number: 2
- Salary: INR 12 Crore
- Player Number: 3
- Salary: INR 8 Crore
- Player Number: 4
- Salary: INR 6 Crore
- Total: INR 42 Crore
- Player Number: 1
Each team has an auction purse with a maximum value of INR 100 Crore. So if a team chooses to retain all four players then they will head into the auction with a purse of 58 crore.
However, some franchises have suggested for a change in the structure of the mega auction along with a change in retentions and RTM options.
Franchises suggest for an increase in RTM options
Unlike the previous seasons, no new team will be added in the 2025 IPL, and the same ten teams that have featured in the 2024 IPL will start a new race for the title in 2025.
This has led the franchises to suggest BCCI for an increase in retention options. Several franchises have expressed their desire for the retention of anywhere between four to six players per franchise. They have also demanded for an increase of RTM options to eight.
One such franchise CEO has made an interesting suggestion, asking for the retention of just one significant player from the team, likely to be the captain or a key figure, and let the others to be retained by the RTM option.
This will give a better perspective of a player's price in the market and also avoid any indifferences between the players over monetary issues.
The franchises have also suggested for the mega auction to be held once every five ears instea dof the current format.
Most expensive players at IPL 2024 Auctions: Starc and Cummins steal the show
| No. | Player | Team | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mitchell Starc | KKR | 24.74 crore |
| 2 | Pat Cummins | SRH | 20.50 crore |
| 3 | Daryl Mitchell | CSK | 14 crore |
| 4 | Harshal Patel | PKS | 11.75 crore |
| 5 | Alzarri Joseph | RCB | 11.50 crore |
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