IPL 2025: RTM Rules Explained – Retaining Players and Maximizing Team Potential – Indian Premier League

The Right to Match (RTM) card, last seen in action during the IPL 2018 mega-auction, is set to return in the 2025 season. This strategic tool, which allows franchisees to retain critical players by matching the highest bid during the auction, was previously used in the 2014 and 2018 mega-auctions. With the modified RTM rule for the 2025 season, franchises must carefully strategize their player retention and auction purse management to build a solid and competitive squad.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season brings many changes to the playing regulations, each aimed at enhancing the overall experience for players, teams, and fans alike. The most intriguing and impactful modification is reintroducing the Right to Match (RTM) option.

This strategic tool, last used during the IPL 2018 mega-auction, allows franchises to retain critical players by matching the highest bid during the auction. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made some significant alterations to the RTM rule, making it more advantageous for players and presenting new challenges for franchises.

In addition to the RTM change, other notable modifications include updates to the definition of an uncapped player, the introduction of retention slabs for the auction, proposed policies for foreign players, repercussions for last-minute withdrawals, and additional compensation for Impact Players. These changes reflect the IPL’s commitment to ensuring a dynamic and competitive environment, continually adapting to the evolving landscape of professional cricket.

The return of the RTM option has been debated among IPL stakeholders. While some franchises have advocated for its reintroduction, players have generally been less enthusiastic about the option, arguing that it may prevent them from receiving fair market value. The IPL has adjusted the rule to better serve players’ interests in response to these concerns.

Per the updated RTM rule, the highest bidder will be given one final opportunity to raise their bid for a player before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right. This modification adds a new layer of strategy for franchises, forcing them to consider the financial implications of outbidding competitors while ensuring that players receive fair compensation for their skills and contributions.

With the IPL 2025 mega-auction on the horizon, franchises must carefully navigate these changes to retain key talent, manage their finances, and assemble a formidable squad capable of contending for the coveted IPL title. As the league continues to evolve and adapt, cricket fans can expect even more thrilling and competitive seasons in the years to come.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has changed how teams can keep their players for the 2025 season. The updated auction system now includes the reintroduction of the “Right to Match” (RTM) option. This feature enables teams to retain a player by matching the highest bid during the auction process. 

Each team can keep up to six players using regular retention or the RTM option. The revised rules allow teams to retain a maximum of five well-known players, regardless of their nationality. These can be either Indian or international cricketers, providing teams with flexibility in maintaining their core lineup. Additionally, teams can retain up to two lesser-known players

The return of the RTM option means teams must plan carefully to keep their best players, manage their budget, and create a strong team. Fans can expect an exciting auction process as teams compete to build the best possible squads for the 2025 IPL season.

What is RTM in the IPL Auction?

The Right to Match (RTM) is a strategic tool for franchises participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.The Unmatched Player Retention (UPR) policy enables a team to regain a previously released player, but at a different price. This comes into play when another franchise places a bid on the released player during the auction.

Let’s illustrate this with an example: Suppose Mumbai Indians release Ishan Kishan before the auction. During the auction, if Lucknow SuperGiants place the highest bid for Kishan, say INR 15 crore. MI will have the option to reclaim Kishan by matching the INR 15 crore bid.

In essence, the RTM rule gives teams a second chance at retaining valuable players initially released, adding an extra layer of strategy to the IPL auction process.

RTM returns, but with a unique twist

In the past, when a franchise aimed to reacquire a player through the Right to Match (RTM) option, they needed to match the highest bid. Under the revised Right to Match (RTM) rule, the team with the highest bid now has an additional opportunity to raise their offer before the team holding the RTM card can reclaim the player.

Let’s clarify this with an example: Suppose Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) places the highest bid of INR 11 crore for Rishabh Pant during the auction. In this case, Pant’s current franchise, Delhi Capitals (DC), would be allowed to exercise their RTM if they still have it available. If DC agrees to match the INR 11 crore bid, RCB will have one more opportunity to increase its offer. Should RCB raise the bid to INR 13 crore, DC can use their RTM to re-sign Pant for INR 13 crore.

This modified RTM rule adds a new strategic element to the auction process, ensuring that franchisees carefully consider their bids and evaluate the actual value of a player to their team.

How many RTMs can a franchise exercise?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has established a basic arithmetic formula to determine the number of Right to Match (RTM) options available to each team. This formula is calculated as:

Number of RTMs = 6 – Number of direct retentions

This means a franchise retaining five players would have one RTM available, while a team retaining four would have two RTMs.

Consider the example of Chennai Super Kings (CSK): If they directly retain four players – MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, and Matheesha Pathirana – they would have two RTMs (6 – 4) to use during the auction. On the other hand, if CSK retains five players, they would have only one RTM, and retaining six would leave them with no RTMs.

This formula ensures a fair and balanced approach for teams strategizing their player acquisitions during the IPL auction. The updated retention policy empowers teams to maintain their core lineup by retaining key players for the upcoming season. This approach enables franchises to preserve the chemistry, experience, and star power that contributed to their previous success.In addition to retaining players, the Right to Match (RTM) option adds further depth to a team’s strategy.

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