Are you aware of the Indian Premier League’s auction process?
Every year, an IPL auction is held, which is conducted by the BCCI, where the franchises bid for the players to add them to their squad. However, the process isn’t as simple as it sounds. Though the auction takes place only for a couple of days, it takes several months for the players to plan to choose the right type of player for their team, considering several factors. Apart from this, there are also prescribed rules that the players must consider before bidding. So curious to know more? Here, I have shared everything about what is IPL Auction, how bidding takes place and the entire process. You can refer to the blog to know more.
What is an IPL Auction?
An IPL auction is where you select the players for your team to include them in the upcoming T20 cricket. As informed earlier, it is a yearly event organized by the BCCI to auction cricket players to the various franchises. The auctioneer is responsible for conducting and controlling the proceedings of the multi-day event. The IPL franchises fiercely bid for the listed players presented for bidding.
How much money does each team get for bidding?
For bidding in the IPL auction, a hefty amount of INR 100 crores is provided for each team, where as per the rules, every team has to spend at least 75% of their income. Here, teams are assembled worldwide, and the players are categorized into capped, uncapped, and foreign players. Here, the price for capped and foreign players is usually higher than that of uncapped players. The franchises make the highest bid for the foreign and the uncapped players. They want to join their team at any cost, and they do not fear many deficits because of their different sources of income. If you want to learn how the IPL franchise earns money, refer to this blog.
What are the IPL auction rules?
The IPL auction takes place according to the specified and allocated rules. Here are some IPL auction rules;
Total Budget
Each team will be allowed a budget of 100 crores INR, which each team should use to bid the players. However, the teams can keep a certain amount only after using 75% of the amount allocated for the bidding. Even the teams can retain their previous season’s purse if they had spent less.
Team Members
At least a minimum of 18 players should be there in the squad. The maximum number of players can go up to 25, but it should not exceed that. Also, ensure that the team has eight overseas players and not more than that.
Different Player Categories and Base Price
The players are classified based on their proficiency and their area of expertise. It can be categorized into different sets, such as capped, uncapped, and foreign players, based on nationality and experience. The players are bid on an initial amount known as the base price, which ranges from 10 Lakhs INR to 2 Crores INR. Make sure that no player should set the base price below this.
Auction Dynamics
The auction consists of multiple rounds where the players bid repeatedly until they are bid for a fair amount or price. Initially, the players who have high-profile names are auctioned first for a fair price. The auctioneer conducts the bidding, and they place bids for the players they want.
Right to Match Card
The Right to Match Card is used by the teams in their squad to retain the previous players. Each team is given the option to use up to 2 RTM players. This rule allows them to match the highest bid of one of their previously released players during the auction.
Retention and Release
Teams can retain a maximum of 4 players before the auction, which includes a combination of capped, uncapped, and overseas players. The players not maintained by the teams are released into the auction pool. Even if players remain unsold in the first round, they’re brought into the auction pool if the teams are interested.
The following are some rules of the IPL auction that every player must know before they participate.
Frequently Asked Questions About IPL Auction Rules
What are the different categories of players in the IPL auction?
The different categories of players in the IPL auction are capped, uncapped, and foreign players. The capped players are those who have represented India in the internationals. In contrast, uncapped players refer to those who have played domestic matches within the country, and foreign players are both capped and uncapped players with global recognition.
What happens to the unsold players in the auction?
At the end of the auctions, the players pick the uncapped players, and after the auction is over, All the players who go unsold the first time they are called up will have a second chance after that.
What is the lowest base price for the players in the auction?
The lowest base price for a player in the auction is 20 lakhs INR, and the highest price is 2 crore INR. No player is allowed to set a lower or higher base price than this per the auction rules.
The IPL auction is a small but complex journey that involves proper planning and setting up a good strategy. However, adhering to the rules can simplify and make the process transparent without complexity or hindrances.
Thank you!