IPL retention: A quick explainer about the retention slabs for the upcoming mega-auction

As the retention rules were announced by the BCCI for the upcoming mega-auction, the slabs for retaining players was also revised. With a maximum of six players allowed to be retained or RTM's being brought into the thick of things, the numbers were shaken up.

With a purse of INR 120 crore, if the team decides to retain five capped players the first retention would cost a team INR 18 crore, the second retention would come down to INR 14 crore while the third retention would be INR 11 crore. For the next two retentions, the amount to be deducted will be INR 18 crore again and INR 14 crore.

For the uncapped players, the IPL has decided to keep the amount to a base of INR 4 crore as was the case in the last edition of the IPL. If an IPL franchise chooses to go to the auction with five capped players and one uncapped player before the auction, then they will be losing out INR 79 crore from the overall amount. If the number changes to four capped players and two uncapped players then that amount will come down to INR 69 crore.

A quick gist of the new retention slabs:

·      1st capped player – INR 18 crore will be deducted from the overall purse of INR 120 crore.

·      2nd capped player – INR 14 crore will be deducted from the overall purse of INR 120 crore.

·      3rd capped player – INR 11 crore will be deducted from the overall purse of INR 120 crore.

·      4th capped player – INR 18 crore will be deducted from the overall purse of INR 120 crore.

·      5th capped player – INR 14 crore will be deducted from the overall purse of INR 120 crore.

·      Uncapped player – INR 4 crore will be deducted from the overall purse of INR 120 crore.

If the team decides to go with four capped players and two uncapped players, then the normal deduction numbers for the first four players will be taken while the other two uncapped players will be costing INR 4 crore each.

The overall salary cap will now be inclusive of the auction purse, incremental performance pay and the match fees which was introduced yesterday. In 2024, the total salary cap was INR 110 crore while in 2025 it will go up to INR 146 crore. In the following years, the amount will see a sharp spike kissing numbers of INR 151 crore in 2026 and INR 157 crore in 2027.