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[Saba Sports News] Ahead of the Indian Premier League 2025, franchise owners are preparing for the mega auction, focusing on retentions and releases.
They have requested officials to conduct mega auctions every five years instead of three and to allow the retention of four to six players. These changes were reportedly discussed during feedback sessions on player retention ahead of the 2025 auction.
Mega auctions currently occur every three years. However, according to a report, a senior official suggested that a longer gap would help franchises maintain continuity, nurture uncapped talents, and improve fan engagement. Established franchises often lose players they developed to the auction pool, disrupting their team dynamics.
The franchise official proposed that teams could renegotiate salaries with players between mega auctions. This would allow them to retain core players and reach better terms with those initially bought at lower prices. The suggested rules aim to maintain team integrity while adding new uncapped players.
Discussions are also ongoing about the Right-to-Match (RTM) option, which allows a franchise to buy back a player by matching their auction price. Some propose retaining one big player, like the captain, and using RTMs for others. This could help determine a player’s market value and avoid monetary disappointment.
However, concerns exist that this approach might cause dissatisfaction among retained players if RTM players secure higher bids. The meeting will also address the Impact Player rule, overall purse availability, and salaries of retained players, expected to be held in early August.