IPL Player Retention Rules Explained
How IPL player retention works before each mega auction — the rules, limits, right-to-match cards, and what happens to released players.
What Is IPL Player Retention?
Before each IPL mega auction (held approximately every three years when the full squad is released and re-drafted), franchises are permitted to retain a limited number of players from their existing squad rather than releasing them into the auction pool. This allows teams to protect core players who define their identity and avoid losing them to rival franchises.
Retention Limits
The exact retention limits are set by the BCCI before each mega auction cycle and change between cycles. In recent mega auctions, franchises were permitted to retain between three and five players, subject to a combination cap on capped international players and uncapped domestic players. Each retention comes with a cost deducted from the franchise's total purse.
Right to Match (RTM) Card
In some mega auction cycles, franchises receive Right to Match (RTM) cards that can be used during the auction itself — not as pre-auction retentions. When another franchise bids on a player who previously played for a team holding an RTM card, that original team can exercise the RTM to match the highest bid and reclaim the player. RTM cards are separate from direct retentions and are used in the auction room in real time.
How RTM Works
Team A holds an RTM card for Player X, who was released. In the auction, Team B bids ₹12 crore for Player X. Team A can exercise their RTM card to match ₹12 crore and retain Player X at that price. Team A cannot bid further above ₹12 crore — they can only match the final bid exactly.
Purse Deductions
Each retained player has a pre-set cost deducted from the franchise's auction purse before bidding begins. The BCCI fixes these deduction amounts — they are not the same as the player's market value. In the 2022 mega auction, retentions cost ₹16 crore for the first capped international, ₹12 crore for the second, ₹7 crore for the third, and lower amounts for uncapped players.
Frequently asked questions
What is a mega auction in the IPL?
A mega auction is a full squad release, held approximately every three years, where all (or nearly all) players are released from their franchises and re-drafted. Between mega auctions, mini-auctions are held annually for top-up signings.
Can a retained player be traded?
Yes — retained players can be traded between franchises during the trading window before the auction. The receiving franchise inherits the retained player's contract terms.
What happens to released players in the mega auction?
Released players enter the auction pool. The BCCI fixes base prices (in salary tiers) for each player based on their international status. Franchises bid from there.