The 10 IPL teams will be able to retain up to six players via direct retention or Right to Match (RTM) card, the Indian Premier League Governing Council confirmed on Saturday, in the IPL mega auction. 

“The IPL franchises can retain a total of 6 players from their existing squad. This can be either via retention or by using the Right to Match (RTM) option,” stated the IPL in its release. “It is at the discretion of the IPL franchise to choose their combination for Retentions and RTMs. The 6 retentions / RTM’s can have a maximum of 5 capped players (Indian & Overseas) and a maximum of 2 uncapped players,” it further added. With various combinations possible, the retentions could affect the auction purse varyingly for different teams based on the choices they make.

For the 2025 season, the franchises have until 5 PM IST on October 31, 2024 to confirm their retention before the IPL mega auction.

“A capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI. This will be applicable for Indian Players only,” said IPL regarding the IPL player rule.

Ergo, former Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni could be picked as an uncapped player by the franchise.

The IPL governing council also addressed the rule on foreign players. Some of the overseas players were pulling out at the 11th hour and the BCCI has tighten the screws.

“Any Overseas Player will have to register for the Big Auction. In case the overseas player doesn’t register, then he will be ineligible to register in the following year’s player auction.”

“Any player who registers in the player auction and after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for 2 Seasons.”