The much-anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction will bring a fresh wave of excitement as franchises vie for top cricketing talent to bolster their squads. This auction, a defining event in the IPL calendar, serves as the platform where team compositions take shape for the upcoming season. With 1,574 players registered and key updates in auction rules, this mega auction promises to be one of the most competitive and strategic to date.
Auction Dates and Location
The IPL 2025 mega auction will be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, marking the second consecutive year the auction is held overseas. Last year, Dubai hosted the IPL 2024 auction, continuing a trend that broadens IPL’s international presence.
Player Registrations
A staggering 1,574 players have registered for the IPL 2025 auction:
- 1,165 Indian players
- 409 overseas players
This lineup includes a diverse mix of experience:
- 320 capped players (with national team experience)
- 1,224 uncapped players
- 30 players from Associate Nations
These players represent a wide talent pool, giving franchises a variety of options for building or strengthening their teams.
Player Retention Rules and Retained Players
Ahead of the auction, IPL teams have retained a total of 46 players with a combined expense of ₹558.5 crore. Each team could retain up to six players, including a combination of capped and uncapped players. Notably:
- Each franchise can retain up to five capped players (Indian or overseas) and two uncapped Indian players, who are each valued at ₹4 crore.
- Each team’s retention cost is deducted from their overall ₹120 crore auction purse.
Some notable retentions include:
- Mumbai Indians: Jasprit Bumrah (₹18 crore), Suryakumar Yadav (₹16.35 crore), Rohit Sharma (₹16.30 crore)
- Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (₹18 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (₹18 crore), MS Dhoni (₹4 crore)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli (₹21 crore), Rajat Patidar (₹11 crore)
Each franchise has tailored its strategy around retaining core players while preserving funds for the auction. For instance, Mumbai Indians will enter the auction with a remaining ₹45 crore.
Key Auction Rules: Right to Match (RTM) and Player Retention
A major feature of the IPL auction is the Right to Match (RTM) card, which allows teams to reacquire released players by matching the highest bid made by another franchise. However, there are updates to the RTM rule:
- Teams with six retained players are not allowed to use RTM cards.
- Teams that have not retained any players are granted six RTM cards for the auction.
Additionally, for the 2025 auction, a final bid option has been introduced to the RTM process. For instance:
- If Royal Challengers Bengaluru releases Virat Kohli and Mumbai Indians bid ₹25 crore for him, RCB can use their RTM card.
- In this revised system, Mumbai can then make a final offer above RCB’s match. If MI bids ₹30 crore, RCB must match this final bid to retain Kohli.
Squad Sizes and Overseas Players Limit
For IPL 2025, each franchise can have up to 25 players in its squad, including a maximum of eight overseas players. Here is an overview of the available squad slots for each team:
- Chennai Super Kings: 20 slots (7 overseas)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 22 slots (8 overseas)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: 20 slots (5 overseas)
- Mumbai Indians: 20 slots (8 overseas)
These restrictions compel teams to carefully balance their rosters, especially when selecting overseas players.
Salary Slabs for Retained Players
The retention of players follows a structured salary system. The five capped retained players’ salaries are as follows:
- Retained Player 1: ₹18 crore
- Retained Player 2: ₹14 crore
- Retained Player 3: ₹11 crore
- Retained Player 4: ₹8 crore
- Retained Player 5: ₹4 crore
These predetermined salary slabs streamline the auction process and aid in managing team finances effectively.
Strategy and Competition: What to Expect
The IPL 2025 mega auction holds immense significance as franchises aim to create winning combinations. With changes in the RTM card rules and the structured salary slabs for retained players, teams will need to be strategic with their bidding, particularly for in-demand all-rounders and international power hitters. As the number of marquee players increases, competition for top-tier talent will be fierce, and franchises are expected to rely on analytics and scouting to identify value players among the vast list of uncapped talent.
Summary Table
| Key Aspects | Details |
| Auction Dates | November 24-25, 2024 |
| Location | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia |
| Registered Players | 1,574 (1,165 Indian, 409 overseas) |
| Retained Players | 46 players, ₹558.5 crore spent |
| Auction Purse | ₹120 crore per team |
| Max Retentions | 6 players per team |
| Max Squad Size | 25 players per team |
| Overseas Player Limit | 8 per team |
| RTM Card Changes | RTM available only if < 6 players retained, final bid option added |
| Notable Retentions | Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Rashid Khan |
The IPL 2025 mega auction is set to be an exhilarating event that will shape team dynamics and strategies for the coming season.