Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, the much-awaited BCCI and IPL franchise owners are set to take place on July 31. Although the venue for the meetings has not been confirmed, it is expected to take place at the Cricket Centre, the BCCI headquarters located within the Wankhede Stadium complex in Mumbai.
IPL CEO Hemang Amin sent invitations through text messages to the franchise owners on Thursday morning, telling them that a formal invite to the venue and timing would follow.
Amin has also indicated that the meeting would occur in the late afternoon or evening on July 31. It is believed that all the owners have confirmed their availability for the meeting.
Recently, BCCI has initiated talks with IPL owners about increasing the number of playing retentions and RTM options ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. With reports suggesting the increase in the player’s retention, the exact number of Player Retention per team is still not confirmed.
The number will likely be relatively low when compared to the suggestions from IPL owners. As has been reported from sources, the inputs from team owners vary in numbers. However, the BCCI is expected to settle on an average number possibly five or six.
The reason for limiting retentions is that a higher number could kill the excitement of the auction. If each team were to retain 8 players, the top 80 players would and India would be out of the auction, making the whole auction a lackluster affair.
The Right To Match option is a debatable issue at the meeting, although the BCCI has already decided on the matter. With no RTM option in the 2021 mega auction, the argument in favor of the RTM option is that it allows players to be sold at their market value.
However, some parties may intentionally increase the prices in the auction, forcing franchises to use more of their budget to retain the players.
In other developments, IPL franchises are likely to demand BCCI to increase purse value. The current salary cap in the IPL is INR 90 Crores, but it is likely to be increased to around INR 130-140 Crores.
With the IPL 2025 and 2026 seasons having 84 matches and IPL 2027 having 94 matches, the players will be bound to ask for bigger salaries with an increasing number of games being played. They are also likely to discuss the Impact of player rule which has got mixed reactions from teams.
