IPL Governing Council unveils new retention, salary cap rules: Deets inside

Bengaluru: The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council unveiled new player regulations for the 2025-2027 seasons, following extensive discussions with franchise owners in July.

A key highlight of the announcement is the updated player retention policy. Franchises will be allowed to retain up to six players from their current squads, using either direct retention or the Right to Match (RTM) option.

The retained players can include a maximum of five capped players, either Indian or overseas, and up to two uncapped players. This policy aims to strike a balance between team stability and the fair distribution of top-tier talent across the league.

The auction purse for the 2025 IPL season has been set at Rs 120 crore ($14.4 million), with a progressively increasing salary cap that will rise from Rs 146 crore in 2025 to Rs 157 crore by 2027.

This new cap also introduces a match fee of Rs 7.5 lakh ($9,000) per game for each playing member, including Impact Players, further incentivising individual performances.

In terms of overseas players, a mandatory registration for the Big Auction has been implemented. Any overseas player who fails to register will be ineligible for the following year’s auction.

Additionally, players who withdraw after being selected in the auction will face a two-year ban from the IPL and subsequent player auctions.

A significant change for Indian players is the reclassification of those who haven’t played international cricket in the past five years or do not hold a central BCCI contract.

These players will now be categorised as uncapped, potentially shifting their market value in future auctions.

The Impact Player regulation, first introduced in previous seasons, will continue for the next three-year cycle, adding a tactical element to team strategies.