The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has called for a pivotal meeting with the owners of all ten Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises on July 31. The meeting, aimed at outlining the road map for the upcoming season, is expected to address critical aspects such as the player retention policy and the potential reintroduction of the Right to Match (RTM) option. The meeting comes ahead of the anticipated mega auction, tentatively scheduled for December. Franchise owners are eager for clarity on retention rules and the feasibility of the RTM option, which were key components in past auctions.
IPL CEO Hemang Amin had notified them about the meeting on Thursday morning. While the venue is yet to be finalized, it is speculated that the BCCI plans to host it at its newly refurbished headquarters at the Wankhede Stadium premises. In the 2018 mega auction, franchises were allowed to retain up to five players, including three from the auction and others through the RTM option. However, in 2022, with the introduction of Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, the retention limit was reduced to four players per franchise, and the RTM option was eliminated. This change allowed the new teams to select from a larger pool of players, while the existing franchises had to break their core units.
This year, there is a strong push from the franchises to bring back the RTM option. Additionally, there are demands to increase the number of retained players to eight, allowing teams to maintain a stronger core. “We have been unofficially informed that the meeting will cover all aspects of the upcoming IPL season, including RTM, purse, and retention policies,” a source said. “There are varying opinions among franchises regarding the number of retentions. Some favor five, others six, and some prefer four. We aim to finalize everything in the meeting, including the salary cap, which might see a significant increase.”
As the date approaches, the franchises await the outcome of this crucial meeting, which will set the tone for the next season of the IPL, ensuring a competitive and balanced playing field for all teams.
