The IPL auction is a crucial event where teams bid on players to finalize their rosters for the season. With strategic planning, team managers, coaches, and owners use their budgets to secure the best talent available. This exciting process shapes team compositions and generates immense excitement among fans worldwide.
How Much Budget Does Each Team Get?
In IPL Season 15, each team had a budget of INR 90 crores (USD 11.9 million), an increase from INR 80 crores in 2018. With ten teams participating, the total auction budget amounted to INR 900 crores, used to assemble squads consisting 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 only played domestic first-class cricket and haven’t represented India.
- Overseas/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 based 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 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 starting bid. For example, if a player’s base price is INR 20 lakhs, bidding begins at that amount and increases based on competition among teams. Players set their base price within the range of INR 10 lakh to INR 2 crore.
Who is the Auctioneer?
The auctioneer plays a vital role in the IPL auction, overseeing the entire process. They announce each player’s base price, manage the bidding by accepting offers, announce price increases, and finally use the hammer to confirm 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 for a 3-year contract. The retention includes a maximum of 3 Indian players and 2 overseas players. Retained players affect the team’s INR 90 crore budget: INR 42 crore for 4 players, INR 33 crore for 3, INR 23 crore for 2, and INR 14 crore for 1.
What is Right-To-Match (RTM) in IPL?
The Right-To-Match (RTM) card is an important part of the IPL auction. It allows teams to retain a player they previously contracted, even 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, or they can choose not to, allowing the player to go 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 other teams, with the player’s consent, during a designated period. Teams can negotiate fees and handle any financial differences between contracts. If the new contract offers a higher fee, the profit is shared between the old franchise and the player. Trades are permitted only within this window, while player replacements can occur anytime 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 be acquired during the accelerated bidding round. Teams can also sign unsold players as replacement players throughout the tournament. This flexibility in the auction rules allows franchises to strengthen their squads during the season.
What is the Accelerated Bidding?
At the end of the first day of the IPL auction, after 161 players have been auctioned, franchises can nominate unsold or unbidded players. This list must be submitted by 10 PM and these players will be part of the “accelerated bidding” process on the second day, helping teams focus on their preferred picks.
Do All the Listed Players Get Auctioned on the First Day?
The IPL auction spans multiple days, with the first day focusing on marquee players followed by categories such as batsmen, bowlers, and all-rounders. In the 2022 auction, 161 players were auctioned on the first day, while the remaining 429 players were auctioned on the second day.
Who Gets the IPL Auction Money?
Players bought at the IPL auction are signed for a three-year contract, with the auction price as their annual salary. For instance, a player bought for INR 50 lakhs earns INR 50 lakhs per year. Even if injured, players are paid their full salary, and if injured before the season starts, they receive at least half. Players who play limited matches or stay on the bench also receive their full salary.
