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Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) owner Kavya Maran has reportedly played a crucial role during the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises’ meeting with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday (July 31 2024), suggesting quite a few options for player retention ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
No limit on players’ retention
According to ESPNcricinfo report Kavya proposed eliminating the restrictions on the number of foreign, Indian, and uncapped players that a franchise can retain out of the allowed seven players. Under the current system, franchises are typically limited by caps on how many players from each category—foreign, Indian, and uncapped—can be kept. By removing these caps, Kavya argued that franchises would gain greater flexibility in retaining their key players, allowing them to build more balanced and strategic teams based on their specific needs and preferences. This change could also encourage franchises to invest more in their existing talent and tailor their retention strategies more effectively to enhance overall team performance.
Also READ: IPL franchises seek action against truant foreign players – Reports
Mega auction every 5 years
She reportedly proposed instituting a mega auction every five years to refresh team rosters and uphold competitive balance across the league. This mega auction would involve a comprehensive re-evaluation of all players, allowing franchises to bid on and acquire new talent while potentially parting ways with existing players.
This proposal aim to inject a dynamic element into the league by periodically resetting team compositions. This process would ensure that every team maintains a manageable advantage for a short time, fostering a more competitive environment. Additionally, it would allow franchises to adapt to changing player forms, emerging talents, and evolving team strategies, contributing to a more balanced and engaging league overall.
Discussion with owners on players’ retention
Kavya further emphasized the critical need for franchises to have the opportunity to discuss retention of only 7 players per franchise and Right-to-match (RTM) options with players during the auction process. This approach would allow franchisees to engage in meaningful conversations with their players about potential retention and the implications of RTM choices before the auction officially begins.
Ultimately, Kavya believes that this process would foster a more transparent and collaborative environment, align the interests of franchises and players, and ensure that retention and RTM choices are made with a mutual understanding of expectations and long-term goals.
