3 + 1 Rules: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction is expected to be filled with various twists and turns with all the franchises expected to undergo huge changes in the squad.
In the previous cycle of the mega auction, all the teams were permitted to retain upto four players which helped maintain a balance between a group of key players and fresh talents throughout the auction process. However, the upcoming 18th edition of the rich-cash league requires a huge change.
Currently, the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) is considering the 3+1 retention rule, which specifies three retained players and a Right to Match (RTM) card. Let’s find out what the rule is about, the pros and cons the alternative opinions of the franchise.
What is the 3+1 Retention Rule in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction?
If BCCI confirms the RTM rule and the maximum number of retentions of upto 4 players for each franchise, then 3 players can be retained with the additional option of using the RTM card.
- Three Retentions: Each team can retain upto three players from their present squad who form the core of the team, thereby guaranteeing continuity and long-term viability.
- Right to Match (RTM) Card: Teams have an extra option of using one RTM card, where they can compete for the highest bid for any player during the auction. As a result, the franchise gains an upper hand in retaining that player compared to its competitors. This rule was introduced in 2014 but hasn’t been used in any of the IPL auctions since 2018. However, the RTM card rule was removed in 2021 as two new teams emerged namely Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) to form the base of their teams. At present, there is a huge debate surrounding the cricketing world to bring back the RTM card rule.
To understand how an RTM card works, consider a simple example. Let’s assume Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) decides not to retain Virat Kohli before the auction and Mumbai Indians (MI) bids INR 25 crores for him. In such scenarios, RCB can use its RTM card to match MI’s bid of INR 25 crores. Consequently, RCB will be able to retain Virat Kohli in the squad for the same amount and prevent MI from securing his services.
What are the Advantages and Limitations of the 3+1 Retention Rule?
These are the benefits and drawbacks of using the 3+1 retention rule:
ADVANTAGES:
- The 3+1 rules maintain a perfect balance between maintaining a team’s identity by retaining core players and developing strong competition in the auction.
- Every team gets a thrilling experience during the IPL auctions with intense bidding wars and surprising twists using the 3+1 rules.
LIMITATIONS:
- A huge concern about setting up a loyal fan base when star cricketers shift from one team to another. For example, players such as Virat Kohli, who have played for a single franchise such as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the inaugural season in 2008 might face unexpected challenges if they move to another team.
- Few teams might find it difficult to maintain a balance with experienced and emerging talents, since the 3+1 rules limits the number of retentions.
Alternative Opinions
Franchises such as Punjab Kings (PBKS), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are excited about a mega auction. At the same time, other successful franchises such as Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) argue for having more retentions upto six or eight. By doing so, there wouldn’t be any importance of conducting a mega auction.
According to the experts’ opinion, having more retention would only favor those teams that have been performing well over the years.
Alternatively, some franchises suggested the idea of having three players and implementing seven RTM cards, which would tally a total of 10 retentions. Other teams had different opinions of not retaining any players before the auction and using more RTM cards to acquire the best players at reasonable prices.
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Final Thoughts:
In the past 10 years, the Indian Premier League had 3 big auctions in 2014, 2018, and 2022 with the upcoming ones tentatively scheduled in November or early December this year.
The excitement about the retention policy ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction continues to grow day by day as BCCI has yet to make its official announcement about the 3+1 rules.
Earlier, the rule was supposed to be announced at the end of August which didn’t happen. Based on the latest reports, it is expected that BCCI will make an official announcement on September 29 at the Annual General Meeting in Bengaluru.
