The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its next mega auction, scheduled to take place in late November or early December 2025. The Board for Cricket Council of India (BCCI) is expected to release the rules and regulations for the auction in the coming days.
The IPL has held two mega auctions in the past decade, with four-year intervals between them. The first major auction was held in 2014, followed by another in 2018, when the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings returned to the league after a two-year suspension.
Sources close to the BCCI have confirmed that the upcoming mega auction is likely to be held over two days, similar to the 2022, 2023, and 2024 auctions. The auction will allow teams to rebuild their squads and acquire new talent ahead of the 2025 season.
One of the key considerations for the auction is the number of players that teams will be allowed to retain. In the 2022 mega auction, teams were permitted to retain up to four players. However, there are differing opinions among franchises about the optimal number of retained players for the 2025 auction. Some teams advocate for a larger retention cap, possibly up to eight players, while others prefer the existing limit of four or five.
The BCCI is expected to finalize the retention rules and other auction details in the coming weeks. The auction will be a crucial event for the IPL, as it will shape the composition of teams and the competitive landscape of the league for the next three years.
