IPL 2021 Auction: 5 Rules All Franchises Have To Keep In Mind While Buying Players

The IPL 2021 Auction is set to take place in Chennai on Thursday (February 18). A total of 292 players will go under the hammer to fulfil a maximum of 61 vacant spots – 22 overseas included – combined of all 8 franchises.

While the franchises are ready with their wishlists and will go after the players they want, based on their last season’s performance, however, there are certain rules which they have to abide by while bidding for the cricketers at the auction table. For instance, Kings XI Punjab has the maximum purse – 53.2 crores – of all the team, however, they cannot purchase more than 5 overseas players because of the 8 foreign players limit in the squad.

Here we look at 5 rules which the franchises have to keep in mind at the IPL 2021 Auction:

Maximum purse of 85 crores for each franchise

Each of the 8 franchises has been allotted a maximum purse of 85 crores. Kings XI Punjab (53.2 cr) and Rajasthan Royals (37.85) have the most money left after releasing – and trading – players; while Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad have the least with 10.75 crores each left.

Each franchise has to spend at least 75% of the 85 crores

This rule is less known amongst fans because the breach of it rarely happens. Each team has to spend at least three-fourth of their total purse, which is 85 crores, at the auction table in buying players. In case, a team is not able to, or decides not to, spend 75 percent of the amount, then the money left from the 75 percent will go to the BCCI.

Suppose a team spends only 65 percent of the total money, then 10 percent will go to the governing body. Therefore, KXIP, RR, and RCB will be seen plenty in action buying players.

No usage of Right to Match (RTM) card

The  Right to Match (RTM) card – with which the franchises get their released players back even if any other franchise buys him – will not be available to use. The RTM cards are generally available only in the mega-auction and since the IPL 2021 auction is a mini-auction, the card is not allowed to be used. Hence, a franchise has to bid and then only can buy their former player.

Maximum 25 players and minimum 18 players allowed in the squad

A limit for the maximum and a minimum number of players has been set which is 25 and 18 respectively. RCB has 11 slots to fill after offloading a wholesale of members while SRH can buy a maximum of 3 players after retaining most of their players from last season.

Maximum of 8 overseas players; but no minimum limit

For the upliftment of Indian cricket and its cricketers the council has set a capping of 8 foreign players in a 25 member squad; while there is no limit for Indian players, meaning a squad in its entirety could only be of Indian players – which is not happening this season as every team has retained at least one overseas player. CSK and SRH have just 1 overseas player slot left.

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