The IPL Apex Council is scheduled to meet on Saturday before the mega auction of IPL 2025. Many important decisions can be taken in this. This includes many issues related to Right to Match (RTM) and retention of players.
Ahead of this meeting, ESPNcricinfo’s report has revealed that each team may be allowed the retention of five players during the mega auction. Along with this, the option of using a Right to Match (RTM) card can also be given. However, it has not been decided yet how many Indian and how many foreign players will be among the retained players.
The report further added that the total purse has not been confirmed yet. However, it is believed that it could be around Rs 115-120 crore. If the 5+1 model is approved in the IPL Apex Council meeting, it will be the highest number of player retentions in the history of the tournament. Before IPL 2018, five retentions were allowed, which included three retentions or three RTM cards. Maximum three Indian players could have been included in this.
According to the report, most of the IPL franchises are in favor of re-implementing the rule in which capped Indian players who have retired from international cricket or have not played international cricket for five years are kept in the category of uncapped. This rule was abolished after IPL 2021. If this rule is brought back, it could allow Chennai Super Kings to retain former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as an uncapped player, giving them a stronger purse before going into the auction. In 2017, the IPL had set a price of Rs 3 crore to retain an uncapped player, which was increased to Rs 4 crore in 2021.