The IPL 2025 season is set to introduce several landmark changes ahead of its mega-auction, as announced by BCCI secretary Jay Shah.
The most notable among these is the significant hike in match fees for players, with each cricketer earning Rs 7.5 lakh per match starting from 2025. A player featuring in all the league matches of the season will now earn a total of Rs 1.05 crore in match fees, in addition to the amount stipulated in their contract. Franchises will collectively allocate Rs 12.60 crore (around USD 1 million) for player appearances throughout the season, marking a new milestone in rewarding consistency and performance in the IPL.
Other key updates include changes to the auction and retention rules, which will dramatically impact team-building strategies. For the 2025 mega-auction, the player auction purse has been raised to Rs 120 crore (approximately USD 14.33 million), up by Rs 20 crore from the previous year. Teams can now retain up to six players, with at least one mandatory uncapped Indian player in the mix. Franchises will also benefit from the reinstated Right-to-Match (RTM) option, which allows them to re-sign players they previously released at the auction.
The retention rules outline the cost of retaining five players, which would result in Rs 75 crore being deducted from the auction purse. This breakdown includes Rs 18 crore, Rs 14 crore, and Rs 11 crore for the first three retentions, and Rs 18 crore and Rs 14 crore for the remaining two. Retaining six players, including an uncapped Indian player, will cost teams Rs 79 crore, leaving Rs 41 crore for the auction.
This move is expected to balance player retention with the excitement of the mega auction, ensuring a competitive yet financially sustainable structure for franchises. The Impact Player rule, which was introduced in 2023, will continue for the 2025 season.
