1. Maximum of six players can be retained.

Each franchise can retain a maximum of six players. This also includes the Right-to-Match (RTM) option. This could include two uncapped Indians. The IPL has also stated that it can have a maximum of five international players. These can be all Indian or all foreign or a mix of both for a maximum of five international players. One player must be uncapped.

2. The Matching Rights Card is back

RTM is back in the auction. It wasn't used in the last Mega Auction. The Matching Rights Card was last used in the 2017 Mega Auction, but it wasn't used in the 2022 Mega Auction. But now she's back. The RTM gives franchises the opportunity to buy back players during the auction. After the bidding is completed, if the player's old team wants the player, the old team has to pay the amount offered by the new team and gets the player back. After at least three franchises supported RTM, the IPL decided to reintroduce it. However, this time, there are some twists in the "Right to Play" cards.

For the benefit of the players, the IPL has made some changes to the RTM rules. This means that the highest bidder has one last chance to raise his bid for the player before the team with the RTM card exercises its rights. For example, if team 1 holds the RTM for a player, team 2 has the opportunity to increase their bid if team 1 agrees. If team 2 increases their bid to Rs 9 crore, team 1 can use the RTM to buy player X for Rs 9 crore. If team 2 does not increase their bid and leaves it at Rs 6 crore, team 1 can use the RTM to acquire player X for Rs 6 crore.

3. Auction amount increased to Rs 200 crore

The auction amount has been increased to Rs 120 crore. This means that the franchises will need Rs 120 crore to build their teams. Once committed, this money will be changed and the franchises will participate in the mega auction with the remaining money. This amount is Rs 200 crore higher than the previous auction (Rs 100 crore). This is one of the most important decisions of the IPL Board.

4. How will money be deducted from the franchise wallet after the players are retained?

If a franchise wants to retain the five players they have selected, this amount will be deducted from its purse: For the first three ties, Rs 1.8 crore (Player 1), Rs 1.4 crore (Player 2) and Rs 1.1 crore (Player 3) will be deducted and charged from the franchise wallet. For the remaining two ties, Rs 1.8 crore (Player 4) and Rs 1.4 crore (Player 5) will be deducted from the franchise wallet.

This means that a franchise that had retained five international players before the auction will lose Rs 75 crore out of the total Rs 1.2 billion.

For players with no international experience, up to Rs 40 crore can be spent on bonding. The same happened in the 2021 mega auction. This means that a franchise retaining six players (one of whom has no international experience) will lose Rs 79 crore from its kitty and will be left with only Rs 41 crore for the mega auction.

5. Impact Player Rule remains popular

Despite opposition from several franchises and former cricketers, the BCCI retained the Impact Player Rule. Rohit Sharma had expressed concerns that the rule could have a detrimental effect on the development of all-rounders. However, the IPL has decided to retain the Impact Player rule, which will continue till 2027. The rule was first implemented in 2023. Nine of the 10 highest scores in the history of IPL have been achieved after the introduction of the Impact Player rule. This rule allows teams to replace one player from the starting eleven and use a 12th player. IPL believes that this rule will move the IPL forward and is also good from a viewership point of view.

6. Injury Replacements and Player Loans

Until IPL 2024, franchises had to find replacements for injured players before the seventh match of the season. From IPL 2025, teams can now replace injured players until the 12th match of the league phase. At the same time, the IPL has decided to reintroduce the player loan process, although the player loan rule is not yet in place. It can only be activated during the season.

7. New rule on international experience, easier path for Dhoni

Former captain Dhoni, who led CSK to five IPL titles, can now participate in the auction as an experienced international player. In a meeting of the apex council, it was decided that an Indian player will be considered as an experienced international player if he has not played for the national team in the last five calendar years. According to an official statement from the IPL, an experienced Indian player will be considered as an experienced international player if he has not played as a starting player in any international cricket (Test Match, ODI, T20 International) in the last five calendar years prior to the respective match. He has either completed a season or is not under a central contract with the BCCI. This rule is applicable only to Indian players. The rule change means that former Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Dhoni, who last played for the Indian team against New Zealand in 2019, will be considered an uncapped player for IPL 2025.

8. ... will then face a ban of two seasons

In a document submitted to franchises on the retention rules, the IPL said: "If a season is not available, he will be disqualified from participating in the IPL or IPL auctions for two seasons. The IPL Governing Council said: "The only exception would be if a player has an injury or medical condition which is confirmed by the player's association." Strict rules for foreign players

After players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc won huge amounts of money in the mini-auction last year, the IPL governing body has also made major changes with regards to the mega-auction and mini-auction. It states that foreign players who do not register or forget to register for the mega-auction will not be able to register for the mini-auction either. Again, exceptions apply whereby players suffering from injuries or illnesses will be exempt from registration. This will be confirmed by the player's home association before the mega-auction.

9. In IPL 2025, players will earn Rs 7.5 million as match fees of
will earn more. The BCCI has decided to pay each player a match fee of Rs 7.5 million per match. This means that franchises will pay the teams for their playing time during the season, in addition to their contracts. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced the move. He said that Rs 12.6 crore will be allocated to each franchise as match fees for the season. This amount is allocated in addition to the auction price of the franchises. The 12 players in the team list will receive match fees of Rs 9 crore per match (12 players in total). Multiply this by 14 matches (total number of matches played by each team during the league period) and it comes to Rs 1,260 crore.