Wed Oct 30 21:13:09 UTC 2024: ## IPL Teams Get New Tool for Player Retention: The Return of the RTM Card

The IPL is gearing up for its mega auction in 2025, and with it comes the return of a familiar player retention tool: the Right to Match (RTM) card. This strategic tool, previously used in 2014 and 2018 mega auctions, gives teams the opportunity to buy back their former players even after they’ve been sold to another team.

**How the RTM card works:**

During the auction, if a player previously on a team’s roster is sold, that team can use an RTM card to match the winning bid and secure the player for their squad. The new twist in 2025 is that the team that won the initial bid has the chance to increase their offer, forcing the original team to match the new price.

**RTM Cards in Practice:**

* Teams have a maximum of six RTM cards to use, which can be combined with outright player retentions.
* If a team retains all six players, they will have no RTM cards to use in the auction.
* Teams with no player retentions will have all six RTM cards available.

The RTM card adds a new layer of strategy and excitement to the mega auction. Teams will need to carefully weigh their options, deciding whether to use RTM cards to retain key players or save them for potential bargains.

This new rule will undoubtedly lead to intense bidding battles and make the 2025 mega auction one of the most exciting yet.

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