Wed Oct 30 22:03:22 UTC 2024: ## IPL Teams Gear Up for Mega Auction as Retention Deadline Looms

**Mumbai, October 31:** With the deadline for player retentions closing today at 5 PM IST, Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are finalizing their strategies for the upcoming mega auction and the new three-year cycle starting with the 2025 season.

Each franchise has a total purse of INR 120 crore to spend on both retentions and the mega auction. Teams can retain a maximum of six players, either before the October 31 deadline or by using Right-to-Match (RTM) cards during the auction.

Teams choosing to retain players before the deadline can keep a maximum of five capped and two uncapped players. Capped players are categorized into three brackets with varying retention costs, while uncapped players can be retained for INR 4 crore.

If a franchise opts to retain fewer than six players, they can utilize RTM cards during the mega auction. Teams also have the option to release all their players and enter the auction with six RTM cards, allowing them to buy back players at any price.

A significant change this season is the categorization of capped Indian players who haven’t played international cricket in the last five years or haven’t earned a BCCI central contract within that period as “uncapped” players. This allows teams like Chennai Super Kings to retain former captain MS Dhoni at a reduced cost of INR 4 crore.

The upcoming mega auction is set to be a crucial event as teams aim to rebuild their squads and set themselves up for success in the next three years. The decisions made by each team in the coming days will shape the landscape of the IPL for the years to come.

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