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IPL auction 2023
IPL

The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction is here to stay, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The number of players each team can retain will be increased from four to six for the 2025 season.

The BCCI has confirmed that the IPL mega auction will continue. During a meeting with the ten franchise owners on July 31, the issue of player retention was a major topic. Some owners voiced strong opinions against the auction format.

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What were the owners’ concerns?

Franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders raised concerns about the mega auction. They felt that being limited to retaining just four players would undo their progress made since the last auction in 2022. They argued that frequent mega auctions force teams to opt for temporary fixes instead of building a stable team.

What are the retention changes?

In response to these concerns, the BCCI has decided to increase the number of retained players from four to six. This change will help teams build more stable rosters.

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Additionally, the Right to Match (RTM) option may return. It will allow teams to retain players through a combination of RTMs and player retentions.

The RTM option was last used in 2018. If it is reintroduced, teams might use a system where they can retain a mix of players through direct retention and RTM. Possible combinations could include a 4+2 or 3+3 system for player retention.

With the increase in retention numbers and the potential return of RTM, teams will have more flexibility in maintaining their core players.

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Divy Dubey Photo

Divy Dubey is a content producer for The Sporting News' India edition.