NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to announce new player retention rules ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction soon. There are also reports that the much-awaited IPL auction is likely to be held outside India in November.
According to a report by the Indian Express, IPL franchises may be allowed to retain up to five players, with the Right to Match (RTM) option being removed.This change will benefit teams like Mumbai Indians, who could retain key players such as Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya.
During a recent meeting at BCCI headquarters, owners of all 10 IPL teams discussed player retention. Most owners supported retaining 5-6 players for maintaining team continuity and brand value. The BCCI aims to balance this continuity with ensuring a competitive auction.There is, however, no confirmation yet on whether teams can retain more than two overseas players. The exact retention costs for players are also pending.
Mumbai Indians, which typically maintains a consistent core, may retain their star players despite underperforming this season under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy.
Other franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals also wish to retain players. It is also reported that they have requested delaying the big player auctions, usually held every four or five years. KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan suggested postponing the auctions to retain invested talent.
The last significant auctions took place in 2018 and 2022, and many teams prefer stability over frequent major reshuffles. The upcoming auction is likely to be held outside India in November.
There were rumors that CSK management asked to retain MS Dhoni as an uncapped player. However, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan denied these reports. If the ‘uncapped player rule,’ which was scrapped in 2021, is reinstated, CSK fans might see Dhoni in the yellow jersey for another IPL season.