IPL Retention: When Is The Deadline Day For Biggest Decision Of The Season

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are gearing up for one of the most crucial decisions of the season - player retention. The retention process is a strategic move for IPL teams, allowing them to secure the services of their most valuable players and build a strong core for the upcoming season. However, it's also a delicate balancing act, as franchises must carefully consider their salary cap and the potential availability of other talented players in the auction.The IPL governing council decided on Saturday, that the 10 IPL franchises will be allowed to retain a maximum of six players from their previous squads, including usage Right To Match (RTM) card at the auction that will cost Rs 75 crore out of an enhanced team purse of Rs 120 crore.“The total salary cap will now consist of auction purse, incremental performance pay and match fees. Previously in 2024, the total salary cap (auction purse + incremental performance pay) was Rs. 110 Crs which will now be Rs. 146 Crs (2025), Rs. 151 Crs (2026) and Rs. 157 Crs (2027),” the BCCI release stated.“The first retention will cost Rs 18 crore followed by second retention of Rs 14 crore and third retention of Rs 11 crore. However, if a franchise opts for fourth and fifth retention, they will again have to pay Rs 18 crore and Rs 14 crore respectively.“So, any franchise opts for all five retention of capped players, then will have only Rs 45 crore to buy or even use their RTM card to buy another 15 players and prepare a squad. There is no cap on Indian and overseas retention,” a senior BCCI and IPL governing council member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.Teams have until 5 PM IST on October 31, 2024 to finalize and submit their list of retained players ahead of the upcoming auction.According to the IPL guidelines, any player who gets capped on or before October 31, 2024, will be considered a capped player for retention purposes.(With PTI Inputs)