With the IPL player retention deadline looming, teams are gearing up to utilize the Right to Match (RTM) rule in the upcoming mega auction. The RTM card was introduced in IPL 2014 and allowed franchises to buy back a player from their previous squad by matching the auction price. In previous mega auctions, teams were allowed a maximum of three RTM cards to retain players. However, the RTM card was discontinued before the 2022 season.
In the upcoming 2025 mega auction, teams can combine outright retentions and RTM cards to keep up to six players from their 2024 squad. If a franchise chooses not to retain any players, they will have six RTM cards available for the auction. On the other hand, if a franchise retains all six players, they will have no RTM cards left.
A new rule for the 2025 auction states that if the previous franchise wants to use the RTM card, the final bidding franchise will have a chance to raise their bid. The original team will need to match the new bid using the RTM card to secure the player if the final bidding franchise raises their bid. This rule adds an extra layer of strategy and competition to the auction process.
