The IPL 2025 Mega Auction is shaping up to be an exciting event with significant changes and high stakes for franchises. Here’s a closer look at what to expect:
Auction Format and Retention Rules
- Retention Limit: Each franchise can retain 3 to 4 players, allowing for a major overhaul of squads. This rule is similar to the 2022 mega auction, where teams had the opportunity to revamp their rosters significantly.
- Right-to-Match (RTM) Cards: The RTM cards are expected to be reintroduced, enabling teams to retain players by matching the highest bid for them.
Expected Venues and Match Format
- Season Format: The IPL 2025 season will likely follow a home-and-away format. There is also an anticipated increase in the number of matches to 84, expanding the season’s length and providing more entertainment.
- Future Plans: The number of matches is projected to rise further to 94 by 2027, reflecting the league’s ongoing efforts to enhance its appeal.
Predicted Retained Players by Franchise
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB):
- Virat Kohli
- Mohammed Siraj
- Cameron Green
- Glenn Maxwell
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):
- Sunil Narine
- Andre Russell
- Shreyas Iyer
- Varun Chakravarthy
Delhi Capitals (DC):
- Rishabh Pant
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Axar Patel
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
Punjab Kings (PBKS):
- Sam Curran
- Arshdeep Singh
- Shashank Singh
- Ashutosh Sharma
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
- Sanju Samson
- Jos Buttler
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Riyan Parag
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Abhishek Sharma
- T Natarajan
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
Chennai Super Kings (CSK):
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Shivam Dube
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Matheesha Pathirana
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
- KL Rahul
- Nicholas Pooran
- Marcus Stoinis
- Mayank Yadav
Gujarat Titans (GT):
- Shubman Gill
- Sai Sudharsan
- Mohammed Shami
- Rashid Khan
Mumbai Indians (MI):
- Hardik Pandya
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Rohit Sharma
Conclusion
The IPL Auction will be a key event for teams as they seek to strengthen their squads and build competitive line-ups for the upcoming season. With significant retention rules and the potential reintroduction of RTM cards, franchises will be strategizing carefully to make the most of their available options. Fans can expect a thrilling auction process that will set the stage for an exciting IPL season.
