The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises have proposed an increase in the number of player retentions for the next three seasons. Although opinions among the 10 franchises differ, most have advocated for more retentions than previously allowed. In 2021, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) permitted franchises to retain up to four players, with a cap of three Indian players and two overseas players.
This request comes as the BCCI begins finalising the retention policy. A final decision is expected to be made at an owners' meeting later this month, once all owners, some of whom are currently occupied with personal commitments, can attend.
Recently, BCCI Acting CEO and IPL in-charge Hemang Amin consulted the CEOs of the franchises to gather their input on the retention policy and salary cap for the next three years. With a mega auction scheduled for later this year, the BCCI aims to make a decision beforehand. Discussions also included the potential reintroduction of Right To Match (RTM) cards, which were not utilised in 2021.
Most franchises have suggested retaining between five and seven players, with one even proposing eight. On the contrary, a few teams believe there should be no retentions, while another faction suggested only using RTMs without any retentions. The BCCI plans to announce its decisions at the upcoming owners' meeting.
The CEOs also provided their views on the player purse, with varied opinions. The consensus is that the salary cap could range between Rs 110-120 crore, though an increase of Rs 20 crore is possible. Currently, the cap is set at Rs 100 crore.
Additionally, discussions have covered cricketing aspects, particularly the Impact Player rule. Media rights holders have expressed satisfaction with the rule, but feedback from the playing side, especially the coaching staff, has been less favourable. Nonetheless, the BCCI is likely to maintain the Impact Player rule for now.