IPL 2025: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 may still be six months away, but preparations for the lucrative tournament are already well underway. All 10 franchises are exploring every possible strategy ahead of the highly anticipated Mega Auction, which will play a key role in determining their success on the field. Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, the most successful teams in IPL history, owe much of their dominance to astute decisions made during previous auctions. For every team, meticulous preparation for the auction is essential to maximise their chances of success.
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Last date to submit Retention list ahead of IPL 2025
As the IPL gears up for the 2025 mega auction, all 10 franchises have until October 31 to submit their list of retained players. However, to finalise this list, franchises must adhere to specific guidelines issued by the IPL governing council. According to the new rules, each team is allowed to retain a maximum of six players, either directly or through the Right to Match (RTM) option. This list can include no more than five capped players—whether from India or abroad—and no more than two uncapped Indian players.
Rules around ‘Capped’ and ‘Uncapped’ players
It’s worth mentioning some rules regarding capped and uncapped players. According to the new guidelines, any player who has represented his country before October 31 will be classified as a capped player. However, if a player is retained as an uncapped player and makes his debut after October 31, he will still be considered an uncapped player. In that case, only INR 4 crores will be deducted from franchise’s auction purse.
One rule that has been carried forward from previous seasons is that any Indian player who has retired from international cricket for five years can be brought in as an ‘uncapped’ player. This special rule allows Chennai Super Kings to retain MS Dhoni, who hasn’t played for India since the 2019 ODI World Cup.
Increase in auction purse for Franchises
For the upcoming IPL 2025 Mega Auction, the auction purse has been increased by INR 20 crores, taking it to INR 120 crores. This means franchises have more money to spend on players and a better chance to build stronger teams for the next few years.
However, for uncapped players, the base price remains the same as in previous seasons, which is INR 4 crores.
Notably, franchises also discussed the Impact Player Rule, which has been in effect since IPL 2023. All franchises were in favor of retaining the rule, as it allows teams to implement more strategic approaches during matches.
