The IPL auction determines player placements for the season as teams bid on listed players, with the highest bidders securing them. This thrilling event features team managers, owners, analysts, and coaches strategically using their budgets to build their squads. It’s a pivotal moment shaping team rosters and captivating fans worldwide.
How Much Budget Does Each Team Get?
In the latest IPL season (Season 15), each team had a budget of INR 90 crores (USD 11.9 million), up from INR 80 crores in 2018. With ten teams participating, the total auction budget reached INR 900 crores, allocated for assembling squads of capped, uncapped, and overseas players.
Different Categories of Players in IPL
In the IPL auction, players are categorized into three types:
- Indian Capped Players: Players who have represented the senior Indian cricket team in any format.
- Indian Uncapped Players: Indian players who have played only domestic first-class cricket and haven’t represented India.
- Overseas or Foreign Players: Players from other countries, who can be either capped or uncapped.
Each team can have a maximum of 8 overseas players, with only 4 allowed in the playing XI at any time.
How Many Players are Listed in the Auction?
The number of players listed in an IPL auction varies each season, depending on factors like player sign-ups and eligibility. In the 2022 IPL auction, 590 players were listed, with 161 available for bidding on the first day and the remaining 429 on the second day. Teams bid within the INR 90 crore budget, with a maximum squad size of 25 players.
What is the Base Price?
Each player in the IPL auction has a base price, which is the minimum amount the bidding starts from. For instance, if a player’s base price is INR 20 lakhs, the bidding begins at that value and increases depending on the competition among bidders. Players can set their own base price within the range of INR 10 lakh to INR 2 crore.
Who is the Auctioneer?
The auctioneer plays a crucial role in the IPL auction. Responsible for overseeing the entire process, the auctioneer announces each player’s base price, manages the bidding by accepting offers, announces price increases, and ultimately uses the hammer to finalize the deal once the highest bid is made.
What are the Player Retention Policies in IPL?
Under IPL auction rules, each franchise can retain up to 4 players in their squad for a 3-year contract. The retention limit includes a maximum of 3 Indian players and 2 overseas players. Retaining players leads to a deduction from the team’s INR 90 crore budget: INR 42 crore for 4 players, INR 33 crore for 3 players, INR 23 crore for 2 players, and INR 14 crore for 1 player.
What is Right-To-Match (RTM) in IPL?
The Right-To-Match (RTM) card is a key aspect of the IPL auction. It allows teams to bring back a player they previously contracted, beyond the four retained players. If another team places the highest bid, the original franchise can use the RTM card to match the bid and re-sign the player. If they choose not to, the player goes to the highest bidder.
What is a Trading Window and the Player Replacement Policies?
The IPL trading window allows franchises to trade or sell players to each other, with the player’s consent, during a specified time period. Teams can negotiate player fees and handle financial differences between old and new contracts. If the new contract offers more, the profit is shared between the old franchise and the player. Trades are only allowed within this window, while player replacements can occur at any time during the tournament.
What Occurs to the Unsold Players After the Auction?
In the IPL auction, players who remain unsold in the first round can still be acquired by interested franchises during the accelerated bidding round. Additionally, teams can sign unsold players as replacement players at any point during the ongoing tournament. This flexibility is an important aspect of the IPL auction rules and regulations.
What is the Accelerated Bidding?
At the end of the first day of the IPL auction, after 18 sets and 161 players have been auctioned, franchises can nominate a set of unsold or yet-to-be-bid players. This list must be submitted by 10 PM on the first day. These nominated players will then be part of the “accelerated bidding” process on the second day, allowing teams to focus on their preferred players and streamline the auction.
Do All the Listed Players Get Auctioned on the First Day?
The IPL auction is a multi-day event, with the first day being the most significant. It begins with a marquee list of players for bidding, followed by categories like batsmen, bowlers, and all-rounders. In the 2022 auction, only 161 players out of 590 were auctioned on the first day, with the remaining players going under the hammer on the second day.
Who Gets the IPL Auction Money?
Players bought at the IPL auction are signed for a three-year contract, with their auction price serving as their annual salary. For example, if a player is bought for INR 50 lakhs, the franchise pays him INR 50 lakhs per year for the contract duration. If a player wants more money, he can request to be released for the next auction. Even if a player gets injured during the season, the franchise must still pay his full salary. If the player is injured before the season starts, he is entitled to at least half of his salary. Medically fit players who play limited matches or remain on the bench also receive their full salary.