IPL 2025: The logic behind Rs 18 crore cap on foreign players and why they have to reger for this year’s auction | Cricket News

The IPL Governing Council has introduced a new set of retention rules and player regulations ahead of the upcoming player auctions for the next edition of the tournament. With a majority of the franchises requesting the BCCI to allow as many retentions as possible, the IPL-GC has adhered to it. But unlike previous auctions, they have made changes, giving the franchises the option to retain as many six players, spicing up the auction dynamics.
What is the cap on overseas players’ fee at mini auctions?
With several overseas players choosing to skip big auctions and entering mini auctions to fetch big money, the IPL GC has brought in a new rule. All overseas players have to reger for this year’s auction, failing which they will be ineligible for the next year’s mini auction. There is a cap on their fee at the mini auctions as well. The maximum fee an overseas player can stand to gain from the mini auction will be determined the highest retention price (Rs 18 crore) or the highest auction price at the mega auction, whichever is lower. While the bidding at the auction table can go higher than this, the incremental amount will go to the BCCI.
How many players can a franchisee retain?
Six. But there is flexibility. Teams can retain up to five players and use the Right To Match (RTM) option once. But if they choose to retain only four players, then they can use the RTM twice. So if a franchise doesn’t retain a single player, it has the option to use RTM twice.
What is the cap on Indian and overseas players?
Unlike in 2022, when franchises could retain only two overseas players, they can retain a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players. A retained uncapped player will cost a franchise only Rs 4 crore and the BCCI has also brought back this rule: “A capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI.”
What is the cost of retained players?
Earlier, the value of each player retained used to decrease. As per the new regulations, this is how each retention will cost a franchise: No 1: Rs 18 crore, No 2: Rs 14 crore, No 3: Rs 11 crore, No 4: 18 crore, No 5: Rs 14 crore. In addition, they can also retain an uncapped player and forgo the RTM. But if they retain only 5, they will keep the RTM option available.
Franchises are also allowed to retain the players at a higher cost. But it will be deducted from their auction purse. For example: Mumbai Indians can retain Jasprit Bumrah even for Rs 20 crore. Rs 18 crore is the minimum bracketed value.
How many RTMs?
RTM option will depend on the number of retentions. But with the RTM not being popular among players as they can be undervalued, it has been included with a tweak. A franchise that owns the player will not have the final say. The highest bidder will be given one more opportunity to raise the bid, before the team holding the RTM claims the player.

What does that mean?
Consider this scenario. If Shivam Dube is being auctioned and Punjab Kings place a bid of Rs 6 crore, then Chennai Super Kings will be asked if they are interested to use the RTM. If they say yes, then PBKS will be given one more chance to increase the bid. If PBKS submit a bid of Rs 9 crore, then CSK can keep Dube for the same sum.