The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction dynamics have taken a new turn, with reports suggesting that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to retain South African wicket-keeper batter Heinrich Klaasen for a whopping Rs 23 crore. This move highlights a crucial aspect of the IPL retention rules: franchises have the flexibility to distribute the retention fee among players as they deem fit, as long as the total amount remains within the designated Rs 75 crore retained purse.
According to ESPN Cricinfo and Cricbuzz, the IPL rules stipulate that the first retention should be Rs 18 crore, the second Rs 14 crore, the third Rs 11 crore, the fourth Rs 18 crore, the fifth Rs 14 crore, and the uncapped Rs 4 crore. However, franchises are not bound to adhere strictly to these slabs. They can allocate the money among players in any way they choose, provided the total budget does not exceed the designated amount.
This flexibility gives franchises significant leverage in negotiating retention fees with players. For instance, a franchise could opt to pay more than Rs 18 crore to their first retention and less than Rs 11 crore to their third retention, as long as the total budget adds up to Rs 43 crore (18 + 14 + 11), the designated amount for three retentions.
Even if a franchise retains fewer than five players for an amount less than the designated Rs 75 crore, the designated amount will still be deducted from their overall purse. As per the retention rule quoted by Cricbuzz, “Retention deduction of overall amount instead of fee per player, in this case of 75 Crs irrespective of what amount is paid to 5 players. If the total amount exceeds 75 Crs then actual amount to be deducted. In case the amount is less than 75 Crs then 75 Crs to be deducted.”
This flexibility in distributing the retention fee provides franchises with greater flexibility in managing their budgets and retaining the players they value most. It also allows them to negotiate higher or lower fees for players they are keen on retaining, without disrupting the overall designated amount.
