Cricket fans are eagerly awaiting the next big event in the Indian Premier League (IPL) – the mega auction. According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the IPL 2025 mega auction is expected to be held in late November or early December 2024. This auction will set the stage for the upcoming 2025 season, with the BCCI set to release detailed auction rules in the coming days.
Mega Auction History and What to Expect This Time
The IPL mega auction has a significant role in reshaping team rosters every few years. In the last decade, there have been three mega auctions, with the most recent one in 2022. Previous auctions occurred in 2014 and 2018, with a gap of four years between each event. The IPL 2021 mega auction was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it resumed with full fanfare in 2022.
This year, the mega auction is expected to last two days, just like previous editions. The last mega auction allowed teams to retain a maximum of four players, and there’s ongoing discussion among franchises regarding retention policies for the upcoming event.
RTM Option May Return in 2025 Auction
In addition to retention policies, one of the most talked-about features that could make a comeback is the Right to Match (RTM) card. This option allows franchises to retain their released players by matching the highest bid for them during the auction. The RTM option was last used in the 2018 mega auction, and several teams are keen on seeing its return for the 2025 auction.
Final Rules and Dates to Be Announced Soon
With anticipation building, BCCI officials have confirmed that all auction-related rules, including retention limits and RTM policies, will be made public soon. Fans and franchises alike are waiting for the final announcement of the official auction dates, expected to be either in late November or early December 2024.
