The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to undergo significant changes in its retention and auction rules for the 2025 season. During a meeting between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the owners of the ten IPL teams, several proposals were discussed and debated.
One of the key topics was the Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match. Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal expressed his opposition to the rule, arguing that it hinders the development of all-rounders and creates an uneven playing field.
“Some people want it because it gives a chance to young players to play in the IPL,” Jindal said. “Some people don’t want it because it is detrimental to Indian cricket in terms of the development of all-rounders. So it’s a mixed bag. I’m on the second camp. I don’t want it. I prefer the game as it is 11 versus 11, and I think all-rounders are very important.”
Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Kavya Maran proposed a minimum of seven players to be retained without any restrictions on the number of overseas players bought back. This suggestion aims to provide teams with more flexibility in building their squads.
There was a split vote on the frequency of mega auctions, with some owners advocating for a mega auction every five years. The current format involves a mega auction every three years.
Other points discussed included the potential reintroduction of the right-to-match card option at the auction and the creation of a special category for uncapped players to incentivize teams to invest in young talent.
The BCCI stated that these recommendations will be presented to the IPL governing council for further evaluation before finalizing the player regulations. The rules for both retention and auction for the 2025 season are expected to be finalized by the end of August.
