The existing eight franchises will be allowed to make a maximum of four retentions ahead of the next year’s mega auction for an expanded 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League, stated a report in Cricbuzz.
With the Premier League set to welcome two new teams and a mega auction due to be held at the beginning of the new cycle, there has been a lot of attention on possible retentions that the existing sides will be allowed to make.
The BCCI was never expected to force the current eight sides to release their entire squad and allow the new teams to bid for their prominent first-choice picks. Going down that path risked losing fans who have come to associate their favourite stars with certain teams.
Now it has emerged that the board is looking to find the right balance where the new sides are able to build a strong squad and keep the competition levels going.
The report in Cricbuzz mentioned that the BCCI had an informal discussion with the franchise representatives during the business end of the IPL 2021 in the United Arabic Emirates and a decision on the number of retentions to be allowed was taken.
All 10 franchises will have a purse of INR 90 crores heading into the mega auction. This limit is slated to expand in the following two years of the cycle, from 90 to 95 and 100 crores. As has been the case, if an existing team makes retentions, significant amounts get deducted from their purse.
Further, to keep the balance going, it is learnt as per the Cricbuzz report that the BCCI has told the current eight franchises that the two new teams that will come on board will be allowed to make a few major signings outside the mega auction as well.
If the number of retentions allowed is kept at four, the existing franchises are unlikely to have the RTM option.
A formal announcement from the BCCI regarding the retention policy is expected to be made after the selling of the two new teams.
