BCCI likely to increase salary cap to around 140 crores for the IPL 2025 mega auction - Report
Published - 25 Jul 2024, 01:56 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:16 AM
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly set to make significant changes to the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of the mega auction. The BCCI is likely to increase the salary cap for the IPL 2025 mega auction, which is expected to take place between December 2024 and February 2025.
The Indian Premier League is considered one of the best cricket leagues in the world. The T20 tournament is associated with significant financial aspects, including player salaries, broadcasts, and advertisements. Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins breached the 20-crore mark in last year's IPL auction.
Teams could retain up to four players, with a limit of three Indian and two overseas players during the last mega auction in 2022. However, many franchises have reportedly requested the Indian cricket board to increase the number of retentions. IPL franchises want continuity in their teams for the upcoming season.
The BCCI Likely To Increase Salary Cap Ahead Of IPL 2025 Auction
According to a report by Times of India, the salary cap for IPL teams is expected to be increased from Rs 90 crores to around Rs 130-140 crores. The report added that the BCCI plans to increase the salary cap due to the addition of more matches in the IPL schedule.
"It has been pending for a while. The salary cap is likely to be increased from Rs 90 crores to Rs 130-140 crores. As per the media rights agreement in 2002, IPL 2025 & 26 will see 84 matches, while IPL 2027 will include 94 matches. It means more matches, with little gaps between them. The players are bound to ask for and expect more money," a source said.
The salary cap for teams was set at Rs 90 crore for the 2022 IPL mega auction. Top retained players earned approximately Rs 15 crore from this cap. With the new salary cap, the top retained players could earn around Rs 20 crore.
BCCI To Introduce Salary 'Increment Scheme' - Report
Each team could retain up to five players, including three pre-auction and two through the RTM (Right to Match) option, in the 2018 IPL mega auction. For the 2022 auction, the Gujarat Titans (GT), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and the eight existing teams could retain four players, but RTM options were not allowed.
The report added that franchises may soon have the option to increase a player’s salary based on performance. This change would allow teams to offer higher wages to top performers, preventing other teams from poaching them.
"The current system doesn't allow for a player's salary to be increased by a franchise once he's bought in the IPL auction. Like most jobs, there's no provision of increment. Suppose he's bought for Rs 30 lakh and has an outstanding IPL, the franchise should have the option of offering him, say a Rs 3 crore fresh contract for the next year, rather than lose him to some other team. This will prevent poaching by other teams," a franchise official told TOI.
