The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Saturday that, starting from the 2025 season, Indian Premier League (IPL) teams will be allowed to retain up to six players from their current squad, including through the Right to Match (RTM) option.
The IPL 2025 player retention rules were unveiled after discussions with the owners of the 10 franchises in July at the BCCI Headquarters. Finalised in Bengaluru on Saturday, these regulations will remain in effect until 2027.
As per the latest IPL retention rules, teams can retain a total of six players, which may include a maximum of five capped players (Indian or overseas) and up to two uncapped players.
Players who are unavailable after being picked in the auction will face a two-season ban from both the tournament and future auctions.
Changes were also announced to the IPL auction purse, along with the introduction of match fees for players.
The dates of the IPL 2025 auction are yet to be announced.
IPL 2025 retention rules
- The IPL franchises can retain a total of 6 players from their existing squad. This can be either via retention or by using the Right to Match (RTM) option.
- It is at the discretion of the IPL franchise to choose their combination for Retentions and RTMs. The 6 retentions / RTM’s can have a maximum of 5 capped players (Indian & Overseas) and a maximum of 2 uncapped players.
- The auction purse for the franchises has been set at INR 120 crore for IPL 2025. The total salary cap will now consist of auction purse, incremental performance pay and match fees. Previously in 2024, the total salary cap (auction purse + incremental performance pay) was Rs. 110 crores which will now be Rs 146 crores (2025), Rs 151 crores (2026) and Rs 157 crores (2027).
- A match fee has been introduced for the first time in the history of IPL. Each playing member (Including the Impact Player) will get a match fee of INR 7.5 lakhs per match. This will be in addition to his contracted amount.
- Any Overseas Player will have to register for the Big Auction. In case the overseas player doesn't register, then he will be ineligible to register in the following year’s player auction.
- Any player who registers in the player auction and after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for 2 Seasons.
- A capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI. This will be applicable for Indian Players only.
- The Impact Player Regulation will continue for the 2025 to 2027 cycle.
