The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set a defining deadline of October 31, 2024, for all ten Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises to announce their list of retained players ahead of the anticipated mega auction. In a formal announcement on Saturday, the IPL Governing Council confirmed that franchises can retain up to six players, deploying either the direct retention method or utilizing the Right to Match (RTM) card.
The intricacies of the retention regulations took center stage as the BCCI declared that any player making his international debut on or before the stipulated date of October 31, 2024, would be designated as a capped player for the purposes of the auction. “It may be noted that for retention purposes, any player who gets capped on or before October 31, 2024, will be considered a capped player,” read an official release from the IPL, as reported by Cricbuzz.
Franchises now face the complex task of choosing their combination of retained players and RTMs. According to the new rules, a team’s six retentions/RTMs can include a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players. Moreover, the auction purse for each team has seen a significant increase, now set at Rs 120 crore, providing franchises with more financial flexibility to build their squads.
One of the landmark decisions revealed by the IPL is the implementation of a match fee system for players. From the upcoming season, every player who is part of the playing 12 will earn a match fee of Rs 7.05 lakh per match. Jay Shah, the BCCI Secretary, confirmed this groundbreaking development, highlighting its intent to reward consistent performances and celebrate excellence within the league.
“In a historic move to celebrate consistency and champion outstanding performances in the IPL, we are thrilled to introduce a match fee of INR 7.5 lakhs per game for our cricketers! A cricketer playing all league matches in a season will get Rs. 1.05 crores in addition to his contracted amount.
. Each franchise will allocate INR 12.60 crores as match fees for the season! This is a new era for the IPL and our players!” Shah wrote in an enthusiastic post on X (formerly Twitter).
Uncertainty still lingers around the finer details of these new rules, particularly the retention slabs. While official information on retention amounts remains undisclosed, it is speculated that the first player retained by a franchise is expected to fetch Rs 18 crore. Another amendment includes the reintroduction of a rule scrapped in 2021: Indian players who have not played any international cricket for the last five years or do not hold a BCCI contract during this period will be reclassified as uncapped players. This development opens up the intriguing possibility of a franchise like Chennai Super Kings retaining the iconic MS Dhoni as an uncapped player for the forthcoming season.
The BCCI’s new directives come with an array of implications, especially in light of the strategic maneuvering that franchises will need to undertake to remain within the constraints of capped and uncapped player limits. Decisions regarding retentions must be finalized by 5 PM IST on October 31, 2024. As the franchises deliberate on their strategies, they will also have to keep in mind the increased auction purse, strategically utilizing the Rs 120 crore allocation to secure key players who can significantly impact their performance in the league.
The IPL’s latest announcements have generated palpable excitement and raised anticipation for the mega auction. For cricket aficionados, these changes promise an even more competitive and financially stimulating environment within the IPL, encouraging franchises to strike a balance between retaining star performers and scouting emerging talent.
As the countdown to the announcement deadline begins, all eyes are on the franchises, awaiting their strategic moves in the retention processes. With the IPL continuing to innovate and solidify its reputation as one of the most lucrative and high-profile cricket leagues globally, these new regulations are poised to usher in an exciting new era, both for players and franchises alike.
Fans and experts alike eagerly await further updates and official statements from the franchises as the October 31 deadline looms. The comprehensive changes rolled out by the BCCI mark a significant evolution in the league’s structure, promising an enthralling season ahead for IPL followers and the cricket community at large.
