The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to bring another exciting chapter with the highly anticipated IPL 2025 Mega Auction. While the 2024 edition featured a mini-auction, the IPL Season 18 will witness a complete squad overhaul, making it one of the most significant auctions in IPL history.
Here’s a comprehensive look at the upcoming IPL Mega Auction 2024 scheduled for November 2024, including its date, venue, new rules, and how to catch the action live.
Date and Venue of IPL Mega Auction 2024
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction is expected to take place in the last week of November 2024, with the exact dates yet to be finalized. However, what makes this auction unique is its likely venue.
According to several reports, including one from Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is considering hosting the event in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh and Jeddah being the top contenders.
Hosting the auction abroad is a first for the IPL and highlights the league's global appeal. It aligns with BCCI's plans to expand the IPL's reach internationally.
Key Auction Rules and Changes
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction brings with it several rule changes and updates:
Player Retention: Teams are allowed to retain a maximum of six players, the highest retention cap in IPL auction history. All remaining players will be available in the auction pool.
Purse Value: The auction purse for each franchise is set at a record ₹120 crore (US $14 million), significantly higher than the previous seasons' ₹90 crore. The increased purse allows franchises to bid more aggressively for top players.
Salary Cap & Player Fees: A new salary structure has been introduced for IPL 2025. The player salary will now comprise the auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees. Each playing member, including impact players, will earn a match fee of ₹7.5 lakh ($9,000) in addition to their auction price.
Right to Match (RTM) Cards: Teams that retain the full quota of six players will not be allowed to use RTM cards during the auction. However, teams that retain fewer players can use up to six RTM cards to bring back released players by matching the highest bid.
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IPL 2025 Retention List Predictions
With the retention deadline set for October 31, 2024, franchises must finalize their retention list. Here’s a predicted list of players that teams are likely to retain:
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB): Virat Kohli, Cameron Green, Mohammed Siraj, Glenn Maxwell
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, Varun Chakaravarthy
- Delhi Capitals (DC): Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Punjab Kings (PBKS): Sam Curran, Arshdeep Singh, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma
- Rajasthan Royals (RR): Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhishek Sharma, T Natarajan, Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Matheesha Pathirana
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Mayank Yadav
- Gujarat Titans (GT): Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Mohammed Shami, Rashid Khan
- Mumbai Indians (MI): Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma
This retention strategy will significantly influence how teams approach the auction. The ability to retain six core players can make a massive difference in team dynamics.
Categories of Players in the IPL Mega Auction
Players are divided into three primary categories in the IPL auction:
- Capped Players: Indian players who have represented the senior national team in any format.
- Uncapped Players: Indian domestic players who are yet to make their debut for the national side.
- Non-Indian Players: Foreign players from associate cricket nations or neighboring countries. Teams can retain a maximum of eight foreign players, with only four allowed on the field during a match.
How to Watch IPL 2025 Mega Auction Live
Cricket fans around the globe can enjoy live coverage of the IPL Mega Auction 2024 through various platforms:
- Television: The live telecast will be available on the Star Sports Network, offering comprehensive coverage of the auction.
- Mobile Streaming: The auction will be streamed live on Jio Cinema, allowing fans to watch on their mobile devices.
- Online Streaming: The official IPL website and IPL social media channels will also provide live updates and commentary throughout the event.
With a larger purse, strategic retention rules, and exciting international prospects, the IPL 2025 Mega Auction is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic auctions in IPL history.
When will IPL Season 18 start in 2025?
The IPL 2025 is expected to be even more exciting, set to return at the end of March or the beginning of April. It will follow the home-and-away format, with the number of matches projected to increase from 74 to 84.
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Conclusion
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction promises to bring fresh talent and significant squad changes, setting the stage for another thrilling season. With new rules, increased purse values, and exciting venues, fans are in for an exciting journey leading up to the IPL season 18. Make sure to stay tuned for the latest updates on retained players and auction results as franchises gear up for the event in November 2024.