The number of players retained has become a hot topic of conversation ahead of the IPL's upcoming mega auction later this year. The BCCI has informally sought suggestions from the IPL franchises on how the number of retained players could be increased. According to sources, the Board has invited all 10 franchise owners to a meeting in Ahmedabad next week to discuss the issue:
“The league is in its early stages, and the board is seeking recommendations to move it forward. Player retention is a major factor, as most franchises favour having a provision to retain about eight players before the auction, based on informal discussions.”
During the last Mega Auction, one player could be bought back using the Right to Match (RTM) card, while four players could be kept. This gave teams the opportunity to keep a total of five players. A maximum of two foreign players could be retained.
According to sources, most franchises believe that there should be continuity in team composition. Given the BCCI's more lucrative media rights deals, the teams have also expressed a desire to increase the cumulative salary cap from the current Rs 90 crore to Rs 100 crore.
Since the last mega-auction, two franchises - Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru - have faced challenges. The team that has suffered the most is DC. In the years leading up to the last mega auction, they had consolidated their core. Delhi had built a strong core. They reached the finals in 2020 and qualified for the playoffs in the seasons that followed.