The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced a new rule regarding the Right to Match (RTM) card for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega-auction. However, it hasn't been received well by several IPL franchises.
According to a report published in Cricbuzz, many team owners have expressed concerns over the additional advantages granted to the highest bidder in the auction during the RTM process, which they believe undermines the spirit of the system.
Notably, the RTM card allows a franchise to match the highest bid for a player during the auction, thus retaining him in their line-up.
Earlier, if a player was auctioned and a franchise used their RTM card, they would simply match the highest bid and retain the player. However, the new regulation permits the highest bidder to increase their offer to any amount, after which the team with the RTM card must match the revised bid to retain the player.
"The highest bidder will be given one final opportunity to raise their bid for a player before the team holding the RTM card can exercise their right," the new rule says.
BCCI's circulated statement further states, "For example, if Team 1 holds the RTM for Player X and Team 2 has placed the highest bid of Rs. 6 Cr, then Team 1 will be first asked if they will exercise RTM, if Team 1 agrees, then Team 2 will have the chance to increase their bid. If Team 2 raises their bid to Rs. 9 Cr, then Team 1 can use the RTM and acquire Player X for Rs. 9 Cr. If Team 2 chooses not to raise the bid and keeps it at Rs. 6 Cr, Team 1 can use the RTM and get Player X for Rs. 6 Cr."
Several franchises argue that the primary purpose of the Right to Match (RTM) is to determine a player's market value. However, the new rule, which allows the highest bidder to surge their bid arbitrarily, ruins this objective.
As per the report, some franchises have formally lodged complaints with the BCCI, while others are in discussions with its officials.
The rule change could also hamper BCCI's efforts to attract top players to the auction. With retention prices set at INR 18 crore and INR 14 crore for players ranked No. 4 and No. 5, respectively, the BCCI seems to be discouraging franchises from pursuing retention.
Critics find this RTM amendment not aligning with that goal, which may lead to franchises opting for more retentions without utilising the RTM option.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
