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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is preparing for another mega auction ahead of the 2025 edition, maintaining its three-year cycle. However, this frequent restructuring has been met with criticism from many franchises, who argue that it disrupts the development of players and the overall stability of their teams.
While the mega auction is planned, there is still no clarity on the number of retentions allowed or the potential reintroduction of the Right to Match (RTM) option. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, some franchises have compiled a wishlist of changes they intend to present to IPL officials in the coming weeks.
Calls for a five-year mega auction cycle
A senior official from one franchise has expressed a desire for the mega auction to be conducted once every five years instead of three. This longer interval would give teams more time to establish a core group and build continuity. The official also suggested that the extended cycle could address issues regarding player pay scales by allowing franchises to negotiate contracts outside the auction, offering improved contracts to players who have grown in stature.
Debating RTM options vs retentions
Some quarters have proposed relying entirely on RTM options and eliminating the retention concept altogether. This idea has both supporters and detractors. Some franchises appreciate the concept of an open playing field where a player’s market value is determined through the auction. Nevertheless, others are concerned that putting their biggest stars in the auction pool could lead to financial chaos, with rival teams driving up prices to disrupt each other’s strategies.
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A balanced approach to player auctions
A balanced approach has been proposed where teams retain one key player and use RTMs for others. This method allows the market to set player prices while reducing dissatisfaction. Previously, teams could retain up to five players through a combination of pre-auction retentions and RTMs, which led to potential salary disparities. There are challenges with uncapped players who might prefer entering the auction for higher contracts, prompting suggestions for allowing up to eight RTMs with no retentions, though reactions to this have been mixed.
Historical context and franchise autonomy
Historically, the IPL has had four-year cycles between mega auctions twice in the last decade. The first was in 2018, marking the first mega auction since 2014, and the second in 2021, which was deferred by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. On both occasions, franchises extended player contracts by an additional year.
As part of the proposed changes, franchise officials have also suggested allowing teams to renegotiate player salaries between mega auctions. This would help franchises retain core players and provide fair compensation to those who were initially acquired at base or lower prices in previous auctions. The negotiation process would be transparent, with new contracts declared to the IPL, but managed directly by the franchises.
Cultivating loyal fan bases
Creating a loyal fan base is a critical goal for franchises, but frequent squad overhauls hinder this objective. Officials agree that the IPL needs to find a way to retain players long-term to cultivate better fan engagement. A longer gap between mega auctions would help teams build continuity and develop young players, especially uncapped Indians.
Franchises that have been around since the inaugural IPL season in 2008 have invested heavily in academies to identify and develop talent at the grassroots level. A five-year cycle would incentivize teams to continue these investments without the constant threat of losing developed players to rival franchises.
