The recent meeting between the BCCI and the owners of the different IPL franchises brought together key stakeholders of Indian cricket.
The IPL 2025 Auction is set to bring significant changes, with a mega auction scheduled for later this year. Representatives from various franchises recently met with the BCCI to discuss the rules and regulations for the upcoming event. Key topics included the potential reintroduction of Right to Match (RTM) cards, the frequency of future mega auctions, and adjustments to the auction purse.
Attendees at the meeting included prominent figures like Parth Jindal from Delhi Capitals, Kavya Maran of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Shah Rukh Khan representing Kolkata Knight Riders, Manoj Badale and Ranjit Barthakur from Rajasthan Royals, Kiran Gandhi of Delhi Capitals, and Rupa Gurunath along with Kasi Viswanathan from Chennai Super Kings. Others present were Prathmesh Mishra and Rajesh Menon from Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sanjiv and Shashwat Goenka from Lucknow Super Giants, Ness Wadia of Punjab Kings, Amit Soni from Gujarat Titans, and Akash Ambani representing Mumbai Indians.
The Impact Player rule, introduced to give more playing time to uncapped Indian players and provide them with exposure, has sparked debate. Some argue that it doesn’t create a level playing field. Delhi Capitals’ co-owner, Parth Jindal, has voiced his opposition to this rule, suggesting that it should be removed for IPL 2025, advocating instead for a return to the traditional 11v11 format.
The IPL franchises have differing opinions on the number of player retentions ahead of the 2025 mega auction. While some teams favor retaining 8 to 10 players, others prefer limiting it to just 4. This disagreement means there is no consensus among the franchises on the retention policy.
It’s worth mentioning that the Right to Match (RTM) card was last used during the 2018 IPL mega auction but was not included in 2022. According to Kavya Maran, players could potentially earn more if they were given the option to be retained through the RTM during the auction.
Currently, once a player is signed by a franchise, there is no option to raise their salary or offer additional bonuses, unlike in other professions where salary increases are common. However, franchises are now seeking permission to negotiate bonuses and salary increments with players after they’ve been acquired. This would help prevent other teams and franchises from poaching these players.
The BCCI has considered the suggestions from all the franchises during the meeting. Now, it’s up to them to make the final call. They will reveal the rules and regulations for the auction by the end of August.
