IPL 2025: Pant, Iyer, and Arshdeep set to enter auction after retention rule change

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is about to undergo significant changes in its player retention procedure ahead of the colossal 2025 auction, which is expected to force a number of elite players to enter the auction pool rather than remain with their respective clubs.

In the past, the smaller amount was taken out of the franchise’s coffers if a player’s retention fee exceeded the set price. Teams’ financial planning will be significantly impacted by the new rule, which stipulates that the higher of the retention price and the assigned slot value must be subtracted.

For example, only INR 15 crore (the authorised slot value) was taken out of RCB’s pocketbook when they retained Virat Kohli for INR 17 crore. Franchises will, however, be subject to higher deductions under the new regime. Even though the total value of the designated players is only INR 43 crore (INR 18, INR 14, INR 11 crore), Sunrisers Hyderabad’s possible retention of Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crore), Pat Cummins (INR 18 crore), and Abhishek Sharma (INR 14 crore) this year would result in a massive INR 55 crore deduction from their INR 120 crore purse.

Prior of the massive IPL 2025 auction, Rishabh Pant shares a mysterious post.

In a recent social media post, Delhi Capitals captain Rishabh Pant alluded to his interest in an auction and enquired about his possible auction value, which has already stirred discussion. His most recent post on X was: “If go to the auction. will I be sold or not and for how much ??”

Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Shreyas Iyer are among the other players who might think about going through the auction process. For certain players, the auction might be more profitable because competitive bidding might increase their value over retention offers.

Additionally, Punjab Kings and other clubs with bigger purses—possibly worth INR 112 crore—may place aggressive offers. In the meantime, the Right to Match card system is also very important because, this year, if a team decides to keep a player using the RTM method, the last bidder will receive an extra bid.

For example, if player X’s current team wants to exercise RTM after his bid has reached INR 5 crore in the auction, the team that placed the highest bid will have one opportunity to raise the bid above INR 5 crore. The franchise employing RTM will have to match that bid in order to acquire the player if that is the franchise’s decision. However, the existing franchise may use RTM for the final bid, which in this case would be INR 5 crore, if the rival franchise decides not to raise the price.

Finally, rather than being constrained by current agreements, the players can bargain for new conditions. Some franchises, though, are adopting a different strategy. For example, despite the greater pocketbook impact,

Also Read: MI, CSK, KKR and other IPL teams bid for The Hundred franchises

the Mumbai Indians are reportedly planning to keep their key Indian quartet—Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya—after reaching mutually beneficial arrangements.