The excitement around the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is already building up, especially with the highly anticipated mega auction just around the corner. After the last mega auction in 2022, the IPL is set to experience another major shake-up as teams prepare for the 2025 season. However, one significant aspect that has yet to be confirmed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is the retention policy for players. As of now, the BCCI is expected to announce the final retention rules soon.

According to reports, teams are expected to retain up to five players in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The rule is likely to allow the retention of three Indian players and two overseas players. While this retention policy would allow franchises to retain their core group of players, what makes this mega auction unique is the reported omission of the Right to Match (RTM) card. The RTM, last used in the 2018 mega auction, allowed franchises to reacquire a player they did not retain by matching the highest bid for that player in the auction.

However, BCCI has reportedly decided to skip the RTM option for the IPL 2025 mega auction, according to sources. While the decision has not been officially communicated yet, it is anticipated that all 10 franchises will have to prepare their strategies without the RTM card. This adds a new layer of excitement, as it may lead to more aggressive bidding wars in the auction room.

Interestingly, not all franchises are happy about the idea of holding another mega auction. Some, like defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Gujarat Titans (GT), are reportedly not in favor of the mega auction for the 2025 season.