New player regulations have been issued by the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council in advance of the upcoming super auction for the IPL 2025 season. For the 18th season, a number of player announcements were made. Reintroducing the Right to Match (RTM) card, which allows teams to retain their best players for longer, is one of the most talked-about improvements.
In addition, the regulations stipulate additional match fees for every game as well as an increase in the team’s purse worth. One notable change is the opportunity to keep up to six players for the next season, which gives teams greater leeway in building their core squads. The team purse has increased to 120 crore Indian rupees.
According to a board decision, Indian players will be regarded as “uncapped players” if they haven’t participated in an international match for at least five calendar years. Ahead of the season, regulations were also made regarding unexpected withdrawals of international players. The whole list of new player rules for the IPL 2025 may be seen here.
IPL 2025 Auction and Retention Rules:
| Retentions | Teams can retain 6 players using retention, or Right to Match (RTM), or a combination of both. |
| Player Mix | Maximum 5 capped and up to 2 uncapped players can be retained. |
| Salary Cap | Auction purse is INR 120 Crore for 2025, increasing to INR 146 Crore in 2025, INR 151 Crore in 2026, and INR 157 Crore in 2027. |
| Match Fees | Players earn INR 7.5 Lakhs per match, in addition to their contract. |
| Overseas Registration | Overseas players must register for the auction; otherwise, they’re ineligible for the next year. |
| No Show Penalty | Players unavailable post-auction face a 2-season ban. |
| Capped to Uncapped | A player becomes when he has not featured in India’s Playing XI in any of the international matches five years preceding the 2025 season, or has not held a BCCI central contract in the last five years preceding the current one. |
| Impact Player Rule | Continues through 2027. |
What are the different player categories in the IPL Auction 2025?
Three distinct player categories—”Capped,” “Uncapped,” and “Overseas”—will be available in IPL Auction 2025. Any player who has represented their country in a formal international match is said to be “capped.” Additionally, a player from India who has not appeared in the playing XI for any international format or who has had a central contract with the BCCI for the last five years is regarded as “Uncapped.” A player who has not represented India on the field is classified as “Overseas.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the base price affect bidding in the IPL Auction?
The participants determine the amount that will serve as the basic price. The starting price could be in the region of INR 10 lakh to INR 2 crore or less. It is not allowed for any player to bid less than the amount mentioned. Players with caps who have been active in the international circuit for a considerable amount of time and who regularly deliver have historically maintained higher pricing.
What is the Right to Match (RTM) and how can teams use it?
A franchise can retain a player in the auction by matching the highest bid thanks to the Right to Match card. By matching the highest bid made by another franchise after the bidding is over, a team using the RTM option can purchase a player back during the auction. It was taken out prior to the big auction in 2022, having been used in the 2017 mega auction. The IPL revised the rule in order to assist the players. The new rule states that before the team with the RTM card may use their right, the highest bidder will have one more opportunity to increase their offer for a player.
How many players can a franchise retain before the Auction?
One of the most significant changes to the retention guidelines is the ability for teams to combine retention with the RTM option to retain five capped players from abroad or in India and one uncapped player. As a result, up to six players may be retained by each side prior to the auction. The total number of players that can be retained by a squad cannot exceed six, and clubs are only allowed to retain two uncapped players.
What is the Salary Cap for IPL Auction 2025 and why is it important?
A franchise must pay INR 18 crore, INR 14 crore, and INR 11 crore for the first three retentions if they hope to keep five capped players. They will have to shell out INR 18 crore and INR 14 crore for the next two. The IPL has set aside INR 4 crore for uncapped players. From the Rs 120 crore total purse, the salaries of the players that were retained would be subtracted.
Salary slab of retained players:
| Direct Retention | Player Value |
| Retained Player 1 | INR 18 crore |
| Retained Player 2 | INR 14 crore |
| Retained Player 3 | INR 11 crore |
| Retained Player 4 | INR 18 crore |
| Retained Player 5 | INR 14 crore |
| Retained Player 6 | INR 04 crore |
How many players can each team have in their squad?
The roster for a team should consist of no fewer than 18 players and no more than 25.
How do players register for the IPL Auction?
A player has to go through a set procedure in order to register for an IPL auction. A registration form provided by the BCCI needs to be filled out by players. This form requests your auction choices, cricket statistics, and personal information. Players are added to the pool for auctions once they register. After assessing the applications, the BCCI divides players into groups according to their skill and output. Franchises may monitor the process on behalf of the players and often have direct contact with players during their scouting phase prior to auctions in order to obtain their services.
What happens to players who go unsold in the IPL Auction?
When they are unsold, a player’s dreams of participating in the IPL do not die. Any player without a cap can still be selected by a team after the auction. Players will be given another opportunity if they are not selected at their initial call-up. Teams have the option to provide a list of players they would want to have available for bids during the accelerated auction. Later in the day, a select group of unsold players will be given another chance and put up for auction.
Also Read: IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Six Retentions, RTM Comeback Confirmed, Impact Player to Continue
The player still has the opportunity to compete if they are not purchased after the IPL auction. Any player who registered for the IPL auction and was not sold may be signed by a team to cover an injury either before or during the season.
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