Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has unveiled the retention rules for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Teams have until October 31, 2024, to submit their retention lists, with the mega auction expected to take place in late November.Each team can retain a maximum of six players, including one uncapped player if they utilize all their retentions. However, a crucial rule applies to uncapped cricketers."Any player who gets capped on or before October 31, 2024, will be considered a capped player for retention purposes," the BCCI stated.This means that Mayank Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harshit Rana will no longer be eligible as uncapped players if they make their T20I debuts against Bangladesh. The trio's inclusion in the squad suggests that India may test its bench strength in the upcoming series.IPL franchises can retain up to six players from their previous squads, including the use of the Right To Match (RTM) card at the auction. The RTM card will cost Rs 75 crore from an enhanced team purse of Rs 120 crore.In a significant move, the BCCI has declared that Indian players who have not played international cricket for at least five years will be considered uncapped players. This move is seen as a way to ensure that Chennai Super Kings can retain MS Dhoni, who last played for India in the 2019 ODI World Cup semifinal.The retention cost for an uncapped player is Rs 4 crore, allowing CSK to retain Dhoni while saving significant funds for the auction. In the previous mega auction in 2022, teams were allowed up to four retentions.Additionally, BCCI secretary Jay Shah announced a fixed match fee of Rs 7.50 lakh for all players selected for league games, with an additional Rs 1.05 crore income over and above their salaries. Franchises must maintain a fixed salary purse of Rs 12.60 crore in addition to the auction cum retention purse of Rs 120 crore for the upcoming season.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is gearing up for its mega auction, and franchises are preparing their retention and release lists. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set the retention rules, allowing teams to retain a maximum of six players.With the increased retention cost, franchises must carefully balance retaining key players and acquiring new talent through the auction. Here are the top six candidates who could be retained by each franchise:Chennai Super Kings:* Ruturaj Gaikwad* Ravindra Jadeja* Shivam Dube* Daryl Mitchell* Matheesha Pathirana* MS DhoniMumbai Indians:* Hardik Pandya* Rohit Sharma* Jasprit Bumrah* Suryakumar Yadav* Ishan Kishan* Anshul KambojRoyal Challengers Bengaluru:* Virat Kohli* Mohammed Siraj* Will Jacks* Glenn Maxwell* Cameron Green* Yash DayalRajasthan Royals:* Sanju Samson* Jos Buttler* Yashasvi Jaiswal* Trent Boult* Yuzvendra Chahal* Sandeep SharmaKolkata Knight Riders:* Shreyas Iyer* Rinku Singh* Phil Salt* Sunil Narine* Andre Russell* Harshit RanaGujarat Titans:* Shubman Gill* Rashid Khan* David Miller* Sai Sudharsan* Mohammed Shami* Rahul TewatiaLucknow Super Giants:* KL Rahul* Quinton de Kock* Nicholas Pooran* Ravi Bishnoi* Marcus Stoinis* Mayank YadavDelhi Capitals:* Rishabh Pant* Tristan Stubbs* Mitchell Marsh* Jake Fraser-McGurk* Axar Patel* Abishek PorelPunjab Kings:* Sam Curran* Arshdeep Singh* Kagiso Rabada* Liam Livingstone* Shashank Singh* Ashutosh SharmaSunrisers Hyderabad:* Pat Cummins* Abhishek Sharma* Travis Head* Heinrich Klaasen* T. Natarajan* Nitish Kumar ReddyThe status of uncapped players may change before October 31st. Players representing the national team before the deadline will not be considered uncapped. However, those making their international debut on November 1st will still be classified as uncapped for the IPL 2025 season.

Chennai Super Kings Can Retain MS Dhoni as Uncapped Player Under Revived IPL RuleThe Indian Premier League (IPL) has reinstated a rule that allows Indian players who have retired from international cricket for at least five years to enter the auction as uncapped players. This rule, which was initially implemented in 2008 but scrapped in 2021, has opened up the possibility for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to retain their former captain and talisman, MS Dhoni, as an uncapped player.According to the retention rules shared with franchises, an Indian player who has not played in the starting XI of an international match or does not have a central contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for five years preceding the relevant season will be considered uncapped. This rule applies exclusively to Indian players.Ahead of the 2022 mega auction, CSK retained Dhoni as their second player for INR 12 crore. However, if they choose to retain him as an uncapped player, his salary would be reduced to INR 4 crore.Dhoni, who turned 43 in July, has only played in the IPL since retiring from international cricket in 2020. His future as a player has been the subject of speculation in recent seasons, especially after he underwent knee surgery in 2023 and handed over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad ahead of IPL 2024.At a recent event, Dhoni indicated that he and CSK would wait for the finalization of the player retention rules before making a decision on his future as a player. The revived rule could provide CSK with a cost-effective way to retain their iconic captain and extend his playing career.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has implemented stringent measures to address the issue of overseas players withdrawing from the tournament after being acquired at auctions. To deter such actions, the IPL has introduced a two-year ban for players who make themselves unavailable without legitimate reasons.Additionally, the IPL has established a "maximum fee" for overseas players at mini auctions. This fee will be capped at the lower of the highest retention price (INR 18 crore) or the highest auction price at the mega auction. This move aims to prevent teams from overspending on overseas players during mini auctions.The IPL's decision to mandate overseas player registration for mega auctions is intended to discourage players and agents from seeking higher salaries during mini auctions. Previously, players could avoid the mega auction and potentially earn more money in subsequent mini auctions.The IPL's new rules also include an exception for players who withdraw due to injury or medical conditions, which must be confirmed by their home board. This exception ensures that players are not penalized for genuine reasons beyond their control.The IPL's governing council has emphasized that these measures are necessary to maintain the integrity of the tournament and ensure fair competition among teams. The new rules aim to prevent players from disrupting team plans and to create a more balanced auction process.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has unveiled significant changes to its Player Regulations for the 2025-27 seasons, particularly regarding the purse and salary cap for franchises.Purse and Salary Cap:Each of the 10 IPL franchises will have an auction purse of INR 120 crore. However, the total salary cap has undergone a major revision. Previously, the salary cap was the sum of the auction purse and incremental performance pay. For 2024, it stood at INR 110 crore. For the 2025 season, it has been increased to INR 146 crore, primarily due to the introduction of a new component: match fees.Match Fees:For the first time in IPL history, match fees have been introduced. Each playing member, including the Impact Player, will receive INR 7.5 lakhs per match. This amount will be in addition to their contracted salary. The inclusion of match fees effectively redefines the salary cap as auction purse + incremental performance pay + match fees.Salary Cap Projections:The salary cap for IPL 2026 is projected to increase to INR 151 crore, while for 2027, it is expected to reach INR 157 crore.Impact on Players:The introduction of match fees is a significant financial boost for players. A cricketer who plays all league matches in a season will receive an additional INR 1.05 crores on top of their contracted amount.Big Auction:The 'Big Auction' for the 2025-27 seasons is expected to take place in the second half of November this year. The location is yet to be finalized, but it is likely to be held overseas, possibly in the Gulf region.

Dwayne Bravo, the former West Indies captain and renowned all-rounder, has expressed his gratitude to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) co-owner Shah Rukh Khan and the management for appointing him as the franchise's mentor. Bravo's appointment extends to KKR's sister franchises in the Caribbean Premier League, Major League Cricket, and ILT20.In a heartfelt video message, Bravo thanked his former team, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), for their support and blessings as he embarks on this new chapter in his coaching career. Bravo, who retired from the IPL in 2021, served as the franchise's bowling coach in the 2022 and 2023 seasons."I want to say a big, big thank you to the Knight Riders family and the management for trusting me, giving me the opportunity to be a part of a very special franchise," Bravo said. "I also want to thank the management and staff of the Chennai Super Kings for giving me the blessings to move on and carry on in my journey."Bravo recalled a message from KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who encouraged him to continue "partying and winning trophies" in the years to come. "So now, with that being said, I look forward to doing my best and I look forward to doing great things with the team in Purple," Bravo added.Bravo's stint with KKR marks his second coaching role in the IPL. He joined CSK in 2011, retired from the franchise in 2022, and returned in 2023 as the bowling coach. The decorated Caribbean star has lifted four IPL titles with CSK in various roles.With 183 wickets, Bravo is the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history. He is also the first player to win two purple caps in the tournament, in 2013 and 2015. Bravo's appointment as KKR mentor is a testament to his vast experience and leadership qualities, which are expected to guide the franchise to future success.

MS Dhoni to be Treated as 'Uncapped' Player in IPL 2025The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has announced significant rule changes for the 2025-27 cycle, including a new uncapped player rule that could pave the way for legendary cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni to continue playing in the tournament.According to the new rule, an Indian player who has represented the national team but has not played in any international match for five calendar years will be reclassified as an uncapped player. Dhoni, who last played for India in the 2019 World Cup, will now be eligible to be retained by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as an uncapped player in the 2025 IPL.This rule change gives CSK a chance to keep Dhoni in their squad without having to use one of their limited retention slots. Franchises can now retain up to six players from their existing squad, with a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.In addition to the uncapped player rule, the IPL Governing Council also increased the auction purse for franchises to Rs 120 crore for the 2025 season. The total salary cap will now consist of the auction purse, incremental performance pay, and match fees.Other key decisions taken by the Governing Council include:* A match fee of Rs 7.5 lakhs per match will be introduced for all playing members, including the Impact Player.* Overseas players must register for the Big Auction and will be ineligible to participate in the following year's auction if they do not register.* Players who make themselves unavailable after being picked in the auction will be banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for two seasons.These rule changes are expected to have a significant impact on the IPL, giving franchises more flexibility in retaining players and potentially allowing Dhoni to continue his illustrious career in the tournament.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council has decided to retain the controversial Impact Player rule for the 2025 season. Introduced in 2023, the rule allows teams to substitute a player from the starting lineup with a specialist batsman or bowler during the match.The decision was made at a meeting of the Governing Council on Saturday, despite mixed reactions from team owners. Some franchises, such as the Delhi Capitals, had expressed concerns that the rule diminished the importance of all-rounders.However, the Governing Council believes that the Impact Player rule adds an exciting dimension to the game and gives teams more strategic options. "It's also quite exciting for the fans as well," a source told PTI after the meeting.Statistics support the Governing Council's view. Since the introduction of the Impact Player rule, the nine highest totals in the IPL have been scored. Teams have consistently crossed 220 and even 250 runs in recent seasons.BCCI secretary Jay Shah acknowledged the pros and cons of the rule. "The negative is that it makes the allrounder's role redundant. The positive is that it creates a spot for an Indian player to showcase his talent," he said.The Impact Player rule could have significant implications for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It could allow former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to play one more season, with Shivam Dube playing solely as a power hitter.The rule also provides opportunities for young Indian players to showcase their skills. By allowing teams to substitute a player based on the match situation, the Impact Player rule creates a platform for emerging talents to make an impact.Overall, the Governing Council's decision to retain the Impact Player rule is a testament to its belief that the rule enhances the excitement and strategic depth of the IPL.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has finalized significant changes to its retention rules ahead of the 2025 mega auction. Franchises will now be allowed to retain up to six players each, an increase from the previous limit of four. Additionally, the right-to-match (RTM) option has been reinstated, allowing teams to match bids for players they have released.The retention purse has also been increased to INR 120 crore (US$ 14.33 million approx.), a significant jump from last year's INR 100 crore. This provides franchises with greater flexibility in retaining their core players.Of the six players a franchise can retain, at least one must be an uncapped Indian player. The remaining five can be a mix of Indian and overseas players. Franchises have the option to retain players directly, use a combination of retention and RTM options, or solely rely on RTM.The Impact Player rule, which allows teams to substitute a player during the match, will remain in place for IPL 2025. This rule has been met with mixed reactions, with some arguing that it disrupts the flow of the game while others believe it adds an element of strategy.The retention rules will be officially communicated to the ten franchises shortly. The mega auction is expected to take place in December 2024, with the new season of the IPL commencing in March 2025.