The IPL 2025 season is set to be a landmark year as it marks the return of the mega auction for the first time since 2022. With this, all 10 franchises are expected to make crucial decisions on which players to retain and which to release. The retention rules have already been announced, and the Right to Match (RTM) card is also making a comeback after 7 years.
However, reports suggest that franchises are now raising concerns about certain aspects of the RTM card’s terms and conditions.
As per IPL regulations, the team with the highest bid before another franchise uses the RTM card will have one final opportunity to increase their bid. This means that if Team A has placed the highest bid and Team B uses the RTM card, Team A will still have the option to raise their offer. Team B will then have to decide whether to match the new bid.
A report by Cricbuzz reveals that several franchises have written to the BCCI expressing concerns about this rule. Their main issue is that this rule gives an undue advantage to the highest bidder, effectively negating the benefit of having an RTM card.
As per the IPL 2025 retention rules, a team can retain up to 6 players, including both retentions and RTM cards. If a team retains six players before the auction, they will not be allowed any RTM cards during the auction. Conversely, if a team does not retain any players, they will have the right to use six RTM cards to re-buy players.
