IPL Player Auction Explained
How does the IPL auction work? Understand base prices, bidding wars, right-to-match cards, retention, and why certain players fetch record prices.
What Is the IPL Auction?
The IPL Player Auction is an annual event where franchise owners bid on players to fill their squads for the upcoming season. Each franchise has a salary cap — the total amount they can spend on their squad — and they compete in a live bidding room to secure their preferred players.
How the Auction Works
Players enter the auction with a base price set by the IPL. Franchises bid against each other, with the auctioneer calling bids and franchise representatives signalling they are in. The highest bidder wins the player at the final bid price. If only one team bids, the player is sold at their base price.
Retention and Right to Match (RTM)
Before the auction, franchises may retain a set number of players directly from their previous squad — bypassing the auction entirely. For players not retained, franchises have the option of a Right to Match (RTM) card — matching the highest bid from another team to keep the player. RTM cards are limited and used strategically.
Mega Auction vs Mini Auction
The IPL conducts mega auctions every two to three seasons — where all players enter the pool and squads are largely rebuilt. Between mega auctions, mini auctions fill squad gaps. Mega auctions are more dramatic, with record bids and completely reshuffled rosters.
Record Auction Prices
Sam Curran became the most expensive player in IPL auction history in 2023, sold for ₹18.50 crore. Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh, and Pat Cummins have also commanded enormous fees — typically pace bowling all-rounders who can open the batting and bowl in the powerplay and death overs are most coveted.
Frequently asked questions
What is the IPL salary cap?
The IPL salary cap limits the total amount each franchise can spend on their squad in a given season. The cap changes periodically — by the 2024-2025 seasons it exceeded ₹100 crore per franchise, with exact figures updated each auction cycle.
Can a player go unsold at the IPL auction?
Yes. If no franchise bids on a player at or above their base price, they go unsold. Unsold players can re-enter later in the auction at a lower base price, or remain uncontracted and available for squad replacements during the season.
How many players can an IPL squad have?
IPL squads typically consist of 25 players, of which a maximum of 8 can be overseas (non-Indian) players. Only 4 overseas players can feature in the playing XI on any given matchday.