One of the key highlights of the meeting was that the ten franchises can retain up to six players from their current squads, either through direct retention or using the Right to Match (RTM) option. The franchises have the flexibility to choose their combination of retentions and RTMs. However, among the six players retained, there can be a maximum of five capped and two uncapped players. Additionally, a capped Indian player will be classified as uncapped if he hasn’t been part of the starting XI in any international match or doesn’t hold a BCCI central contract.
Another key takeaway from the meeting was the increase in the auction purse for each team, now set at ₹120 crore. In a landmark move, the IPL also announced that all players in the playing 12 will receive a match fee of ₹7.05 lakh per game. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah confirmed this development on Twitter and said “ In a historic move to celebrate consistency and champion outstanding performances in the IPL, we are thrilled to introduce a match fee of INR 7.5 lakhs per game for our cricketers! A cricketer playing all league matches in a season will get Rs. 1.05 crores in addition to his contracted amount. Each franchise will allocate INR 12.60 crores as match fees for the season! This is a new era for the IPL and our players.”
To address the issue of foreign players’ unavailability, the BCCI has introduced new regulations. Any overseas player must register for the Big Auction, and failure to do so will result in ineligibility for the following year’s auction. Furthermore, if a registered player is picked in the auction but later declares unavailability before the season begins, they will face a two-season ban from the tournament and auctions.
In addition, the BCCI has opted to retain the impact player rule for the IPL cycle from 2025 to 2027, aligning with franchise demands to retain 5-6 players, fostering continuity and brand growth.
