Reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to allow teams to retain up to five players ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction. The Indian Express has released this information, indicating that teams will not be permitted to use Right to Match (RTM) cards during the auction.

The decision to permit the retention of five players appears to be based on discussions among teams. However, there is currently no clarity regarding how many Indian players can be retained and whether foreign players can also be included in this count. In the last mega auction, teams were allowed to retain four players, with a stipulation that at least three had to be Indian.

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The mega auction is expected to take place later this year, likely in November or early December, as clarified by the IANS. Reports also indicate that the player auction will be conducted over two days, as confirmed by BCCI sources.

What is an RTM card?

A Right to Match (RTM) card in the IPL allows a franchise to reacquire a player during the mega auction by matching the highest bid made by another franchise after the bidding concludes. In 2014, it was referred to as the 'Joker Card.' The RTM card was last utilised in the 2018 mega auction.

The more the better: Raina, Rayudu have their say on IPL retention

IPL stalwarts Suresh Raina and Ambati Rayudu want a higher player retention ahead of the 2025 IPL auction as an unchanged core allows teams to excel in the world's biggest T20 competition.

The IPL had allowed the teams to retain up to four players in the last mega auction held in 2022.

A three-year cycle has ended and another mega auction is on the horizon but teams have contrasting views on player retention. Some want as many as eight and some are okay with four or five.

The IPL Governing Council is yet to decide on the matter.

"Personally I feel retentions have to be a lot more because a franchise invests a lot on player, the core of the team is what makes every team unique in the IPL so me the longer the core remains the culture of the team remains.

"There is a great chance of success. Retentions have to be and there needs be lot of retentions. It can't be one or two. All the important players should be retained," said Rayudu.

Sitting alongside Rayudu, Raina could not agree more with his former Chennai Super Kings teammate.

"I 100 percent agree with Rayudu. The mega auction should be every three years. The IPL Governing Council will do what is best for the game," said Raina. (With inputs from Agencies)