The IPL franchises can retain a total of six players before IPL 2025. A team can retain five players before the IPL 2025 mega-auction while the sixth player can be retained via the Right to Match (RTM) card. The RTM card will be making its return for the first time since 2018.
The auction purse has been increased to Rs 120 crore. But a franchise will have to shell out a huge sum of Rs 75 crore if it wishes to retain five players before the mega-auction. The first-choice retention will earn a sum of Rs 18 crore. In 2022, the highest retention amount was Rs 16 crore.
The second-choice retention will receive Rs 14 crore. The third-choice retention will be paid a sum of Rs 14 crore. Surprisingly, the BCCI has increased the amount for the fourth and fifth-choice retentions.
The fourth-choice retention will earn the same amount that a team's first-choice retention will earn i.e. Rs 18 crore. The fifth-choice retention will earn Rs 14 crore.
The change is probably done to discourage the franchises from retaining 5 players before the mega-auction. If a franchise retains five players, it can use one RTM card in the mega-auction.
If a team retains four players, then it will have two RTM cards. A team can even have six RTM cards if it doesn't retain any player. In 2014, Delhi Capitals (then known as Delhi Daredevils) did not retain any player before the mega-auction.
The IPL 2025 mega-auction will be a two-day affair. The event is likely to take place outside India once again. The IPL 2024 mini-auction took place in Dubai. The mega auction could take place in November.
Ahead of the auction, all eyes are on MS Dhoni. The IPL legend has stayed silent on his future and it remains to be seen if he continues to play the T20 league. Dhoni stepped down as Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) captain before IPL 2024.