During the IPL Governing Council’s meeting with the owners of all 10 franchises in Mumbai on Wednesday, there could be a consensus on increasing the team purse to Rs 120 crore and allowing up to six retentions, including ‘Right To Match’ (RTM) options. This discussion is part of the preparations for a big auction at the end of this year. Five key points will be addressed, and while the BCCI won’t finalize the rules and regulations for team building, the owners’ inputs will be considered.
Several franchises agree that the current team purse of Rs 100 crore should be increased by at least 20 to 25 percent, making Rs 120 to 125 crore a reasonable range. A senior official from one IPL franchise, speaking anonymously, confirmed this consensus.
The major point of contention remains player retention, with teams having varied needs. While one prominent franchise proposed up to eight retentions, including RTMs, most teams are unlikely to support this. Currently, the IPL allows four retentions per year, with three Indians and one overseas player. Most teams prefer retention to be between five and six players.
“Continuity and maintaining a core team are crucial. Allowing six retentions, including a couple of RTM cards with at least one uncapped player, seems reasonable, though there will likely be debates over the number of overseas retentions,” an IPL source noted. Teams like Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have expressed a desire for more than one overseas retention.
The ‘Impact Player’ rule is another topic of debate. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have raised concerns about its impact on the development of all-rounders, franchises generally do not mind having 12 players available for a contest. The BCCI has a duty to protect all-rounders, who are becoming scarce due to this rule.
Chennai Super Kings argue that the ‘Impact Player’ rule could enable Mahendra Singh Dhoni to play another year. Without it, Dhoni, who currently bats at No. 8, couldn’t fit Shivam Dube in the playing XI without utilizing his bowling, which is seen as a vulnerability.
Additionally, discussions will cover IPL Gaming Rights and revenue sharing from IPL’s Central Merchandising pool.
