IPL owners meeting updates

When was the BCCI-IPL team owners' meeting held?

After several reports and rumours flying around the potential new rules surrounding the IPL 2025 auction and the standpoints of various franchises on the same, the meeting between the stakeholders – the franchise owners and the BCCI – finally took place at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Wednesday (July 31) night.

What were the topics of discussion?

The primary agenda of the meeting was to get feedback from the franchises on the mega auction and the rules surrounding it, along with other issues like the continuation of the Impact Player rule.

The number of retentions to be allowed, whether to have the right to match or not, how to distribute the salary among retained players, and whether to have separate slots for retaining uncapped players or not were among the topics discussed.

Also read: IPL 2025 auction: New retention and RTM rules – what we know so far

Reports, rumours, and updates from the BCCI-IPL team owners meeting

Franchises ask for two-year ban on withdrawing overseas players - reports

According to an August 2 report from ESPNCricinfo, nearly all franchises agreed on the proposal of a two-year ban for overseas players that withdraw without sufficient cause from the IPL after being picked in the auction. They are reportedly willing to accept reasons related to injury, international commitments or family commitments, but apparently want to stop players from pulling out of the tournament after they receive a bid lower than what they expected.

The franchises have all also reportedly agreed on prominent overseas players being required to enter the mega auction, rather than only participating in the mini-auction to receive inflated bids.

KKR, SRH want more retentions, no mega auction

According to a Cricbuzz report, the two finalists of IPL 2024, KKR and SRH, have batted for a higher number of retentions. Both teams are in favour of continuity and building on the squads that have already given them success. The report also suggests that SRH CEO Kavya Maran is in favour mini-auctions every year rather than a mega-auction every few years.

PBKS, DC want fewer retentions

According to the same report, DC owner Parth Jindal has expressed that he's against many retentions and the abolishment of the mega auction. "Some people said that there should not be a mega auction at all. There should be only smaller auctions. I'm not in that camp. I feel that it evens the playing field and it's very good for everyone. It makes the IPL what it is. It makes it competitive. It makes it an even playing field. What we are learning is that team owners don't want the auction. It's just a few owners," Jindal was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

PBKS also seem to be in favour of minimising the number of retentions as can be judged from the fact that their owner Ness Wadia reportedly got into a heated debate with KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan on the topic. KKR, understandably, don't want to start with a clean slate.

DC not in favour of Impact Player rule

The Impact Player rule was also up for debate. Introduced in 2023, it has split opinions among fans, players, pundits, and all the stakeholders alike. According to an earlier Cricbuzz report, the broadcasters seem to be in favour of continuing with the Impact Player rule, however, DC owner Parth Jindal doesn't seem to belong in that category.

"Some people want it because it gives a chance to young players to play in the IPL. Some people don't want it because it is detrimental to Indian cricket in terms of the development of all-rounders. So it's a mixed bag. I'm in the second camp. I don't want it. I prefer the game as it is, XI vs XI."

SRH CEO wants players who withdraw post auction banned

SRH CEO Kavya Maran has called for a ban on players who withdraw from the IPL after getting picked up at the auction. "After being selected in the auction, if a player doesn't come to play the season for any reason apart from injury, he should be banned," she said.

Read more: Ban foreign IPL players withdrawing after auction: SRH CEO

SRH CEO: Franchise should have discretion of splitting amount between retained players

Kavya Maran also raised a few pertinent points on the distribution of funds among retained players. According to the Cricbuzz report, she suggested to have a pot for the retained players and not specified amounts for each retention. That way, the splitting of the retention amount among players will be at the discretion of the franchises and "prevent situations of conflict where players feel that they are of the same calibre but one player gets a higher amount, while the other lower based on pre-assigned brackets."

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