Big IPL Players Opt Against Retention To Enter Auction, Boosted By BCCI's RTM Rule Twist: Report

With just a fortnight left for the 10 IPL franchises to announce the players they will retain ahead of the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, cricket fans across the country are eagerly awaiting the announcement from the teams as the league builds up to possibly its biggest auction in history.

Last month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that each team can retain a maximum of six players with no limits on Indian or overseas picks. The Indian cricket governing body stated that a team has to be paid Rs. 18 crore (slots 1 and 4), or 14 crore (slots 2 and 4), or 11 crore (slot 3).

Further, a team has to retain a minimum of one and a maximum of two uncapped players. Any player who has never played for India can be retained for just Rs. 4 crore. Players who have not represented the country for more than five years are also counted as 'uncapped.'

BCCI also announced the return of the Right to Match (RTM) card and stated that teams can either retain six players or through the RTM. However, this time around the rule has come with a twist as if a franchise decides to use the RTM, the team that originally won the bidding war will have the chance to increase their bid to any amount. After which, it will be the choice of the team trying to re-sign their player if they want to match the new amount.

According to a report by Cricbuzz, big players are opting against retention boosted by the new RTM rule and instead are trying to test their market value in the auction. It is reported that player agents, especially of foreign players, have started negotiations for better deals.

Teams have to announce their list of retained players by October 31st, while the mega auction is scheduled to take place by the end of November.

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