Before the mega auction of IPL 2025, a big update has come on the 'retention policy', know how many players the teams can retain

IPL 2025: Mega auction is to be held before IPL 2025. Before the mega auction, a big update has come out on the retention policy of the players.

IPL 2025 Retain Policy:

A mega auction is to be held before IPL 2025. The question remains on how many players the teams will be able to retain before this mega auction. The BCCI decided on the retention rules for IPL 2025 in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Tuesday. If reports are to be believed, the BCCI may allow IPL franchises to retain 5 players.

Contents

IPL 2025 Retain Policy: The Importance of Retention in IPL New Retention Policy for IPL 2025 Breakdown of the Retention Combinations Salary Cap and Player Retention Teams’ Dilemmas: Who Stays, Who Goes?What to Expect from the Mega Auction Conclusion Gadgets I use

According to the report of ‘Indian Express’, IPL teams can retain 5 players before the 2025 mega auction. However, the option of ‘Right to Match’ will not be available. BCCI discussed the retention policy with all 10 teams in the Annual General Meeting. Most of the teams wanted to retain 5-6 players. Due to this, BCCI is considering retaining five players.

Before the 2022 mega auction, teams were allowed to retain only 4 players, which could include a maximum of three Indian and 2 foreign players. However, before the 2025 mega auction, it is not clear how many Indian and foreign players will be included in the retained players. At present, official information is yet to come from the BCCI regarding the retention policy.

Many big players may be involved in manipulation

Let us tell you that the date of the mega auction for IPL 2025 has not been revealed yet. At the same time, before this mega auction, many big players can be seen in manipulation. Before the 2025 mega auction, the biggest manipulation can be seen in the form of Rohit Sharma. Many media reports have claimed that Mumbai Indians will release Rohit Sharma and the Hitman will join Lucknow Super Giants. Apart from this, many reports have also claimed about KL Rahul that he can leave Lucknow Super Giants and become a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, no official information has been revealed yet on Rohit and KL Rahul.

As the excitement for IPL 2025 builds up, cricket fans are already buzzing with anticipation for the mega auction, which promises to bring major changes to team line-ups and strategies. However, before the auction begins, one of the most critical aspects that has caught everyone’s attention is the retention policy for the 2025 season. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced some big updates on how many players each team can retain, setting the stage for a dramatic and highly competitive auction.

The Importance of Retention in IPL

Retention is one of the most crucial factors in building a strong IPL squad. It allows franchises to hold onto their core players, ensuring team stability and the continuation of key combinations. Over the years, the retention policy has played a significant role in teams’ success, as players retained by franchises often become the backbone of their squads.

Teams like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) have benefited greatly from player retention in the past, keeping their star players and maintaining a strong, consistent team culture. However, with the new retention policy for IPL 2025, teams will have to make some tough decisions, which could completely alter the dynamics of the upcoming season.

New Retention Policy for IPL 2025

The BCCI’s new retention policy for the IPL 2025 mega auction is designed to strike a balance between team stability and ensuring a competitive auction pool. According to the latest update, each franchise will be allowed to retain a maximum of four players. This includes a combination of both capped and uncapped players. The specifics of the policy are as follows:

Maximum Retention: 4 Players
- Teams can retain a maximum of three Indian players.
- Teams can retain a maximum of two overseas players.
- Out of the four players retained, a combination of both Indian and overseas players must be maintained, i.e., a team cannot retain all overseas players.

This restriction has been designed to ensure that a larger pool of top players is available for the auction, giving every franchise a fair chance to build a competitive squad.

Breakdown of the Retention Combinations

Teams will need to carefully consider how they approach this new policy. The allowed combinations could look something like this:

3 Indian players + 1 overseas player
2 Indian players + 2 overseas players
3 Indian players + 0 overseas players

With these limited retention options, franchises will have to evaluate which players are absolutely essential to their core strategy and which ones they can afford to release into the auction pool. This could lead to some big names becoming available at the auction, making the bidding process intense and competitive.

Salary Cap and Player Retention

Another key aspect of the retention policy is its impact on the franchise’s salary cap. Retaining players comes at a price, as a portion of the team’s salary purse is deducted based on the number of players retained. The deduction slabs for the IPL 2025 retention are expected to follow this structure:

Four retained players: ₹42 crore deduction from the salary purse.
Three retained players: ₹33 crore deduction.
Two retained players: ₹24 crore deduction.
One retained player: ₹14 crore deduction.

With a total salary cap of ₹100 crore for the IPL 2025 season, teams will need to be strategic about how much they spend on retention versus how much they want to reserve for the auction.

Teams’ Dilemmas: Who Stays, Who Goes?

With the limited retention options, teams will face the tough task of choosing which players to keep and who to release. Franchises with strong cores, such as Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, and Rajasthan Royals, will likely look to retain their star players and key performers. However, the challenge lies in balancing their star power with their available budget for the auction.

For instance:

Mumbai Indians may want to retain players like Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ishan Kishan, but will they also be able to hold on to an overseas star like Tim David?
Chennai Super Kings may prioritize keeping Ravindra Jadeja and Ruturaj Gaikwad, but will they have room to retain a player like Devon Conway or Moeen Ali?
Rajasthan Royals might look to retain Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, but their overseas stars like Jos Buttler and Trent Boult will also be on the radar.

These decisions will be pivotal in shaping how the teams look heading into the IPL 2025 auction, and fans can expect some surprising releases that will set the auction floor on fire.

What to Expect from the Mega Auction

With the retention policy now official, teams will have to finalize their decisions ahead of the mega auction. The pool of players available for the auction is expected to be larger and more competitive than in previous seasons, as teams can only retain four players. This opens up opportunities for smaller teams and those looking to rebuild, like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants, to bid for top-tier talent.

Additionally, new and emerging players, both from India and abroad, will have a golden chance to be picked up by major franchises, adding fresh energy to the league.

Conclusion

The new retention policy for IPL 2025 brings an exciting twist to the tournament. By limiting the number of players a team can retain, the BCCI has ensured that the upcoming mega auction will be highly competitive and filled with surprises. Teams will need to carefully strategize their retentions, balancing their core players with the need for fresh talent.

As fans eagerly await the IPL 2025 mega auction, one thing is clear: the season ahead promises to be thrilling, with plenty of drama, new rivalries, and opportunities for emerging stars to shine.