New Rules Imposed for Overseas Players in IPL Auctions

Foreign players who withdraw from an IPL season after being bought in an auction without valid reasons will now face two-year suspensions. Additionally, a new cap has been introduced for overseas players' fees during mini auctions. This cap will be either INR 18 crore (approximately US$2.1 million) or the highest price paid in the preceding mega auction, whichever is lower.

The decision to penalise overseas players who pull out after being auctioned was made after all ten IPL franchises raised concerns during a July meeting with the IPL governing council. Franchises were frustrated by late withdrawals, which often left their team plans in disarray, and called for stricter measures.

In a document sent to the franchises outlining retention rules, the IPL stated that any foreign player who registers for the auction and withdraws without a valid reason after being picked will be banned from participating in the IPL or any IPL auction for two years. The only exceptions will be cases involving injuries or medical conditions, which must be verified by the player's home board.

Overseas Players Required to Register for Mega Auctions

To further address the issue, the IPL has introduced a requirement for overseas players to register for mega auctions. Franchises argued that this would prevent players and their agents from targeting higher payouts during mini auctions, where teams often spend large sums to address specific squad needs.

This was evident in the last IPL auction, where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the eventual winners and runners-up of IPL 2024, made record-breaking bids for players like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Cummins fetched INR 20.50 crore (approximately US$2.47 million), and Starc set a new record with a price of INR 24.75 crore (approximately US$2.98 million).

To mitigate this, the IPL has introduced a dual approach. Overseas players will be required to register for the mega auction if they wish to be considered for any subsequent mini auctions. The only exception will be for players who miss the mega auction due to injury or medical conditions, which must be confirmed by their home boards.

Cap on Overseas Players' Fees in Mini Auctions

The IPL has also implemented a cap on the maximum fee for overseas players during mini auctions. According to the new rule, the auction fee for a foreign player in a mini auction will not exceed the highest retention price of INR 18 crore or the highest auction price in the preceding mega auction. For example, if the highest price in the mega auction is INR 20 crore, the cap will be INR 18 crore; if it is INR 16 crore, then INR 16 crore becomes the cap.

Once the auction for a player concludes, the final bid will be charged to the franchise's auction purse. Any amount exceeding the cap of INR 16 or 18 crore will be transferred to the BCCI, where it will be used for the welfare of players.

This new system aims to bring greater fairness and consistency to the auction process, while ensuring that players commit to the seasons they sign up for.