IPL 2025: No more fixed slabs as franchises granted freedom to divide ₹75 crore among retained players

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) provided a major update on the price slab of the players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 ahead of the mega auction.

As per the reports in ESPNCricinfo, it is learned that franchises can divide the capped retention pot of 75 Crore among 5 capped players as they wish.

Retention slabs for the IPL 2025

The retention slabs for the IPL 2025 are structured as Rs 18 crore for Player No. 1, Rs 14 crore for Player No. 2, Rs 11 crore for Player No. 3, Rs 18 crore for Player No. 4, and Rs 14 crore for Player No. 5. But the franchises have been given full freedom over the budget of 75 crores to accumulate among posses.

However, the reports also claimed that although the franchises can pay players any amount within these limits if the actual payout exceeds the allotment, the excess will be deducted from the auction purse.

IPL 2025 retention rule

The actual retention rule for the IPL 2025 reads like this (as quoted by Cricbuzz): "Retention deduction of overall amount instead of fee per player, in this case of 75 Crs irrespective of what amount is paid to 5 players. If the total amount exceeds 75 Crs, then the actual amount is to be deducted. In case the amount is less than 75 Crs then 75 Crs to be deducted."

SRH to retain Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins and Abhishek Sharma for IPL 2025

An example of franchises getting full freedom over their money is the reported Sunrisers Hyderabad's retentions. As per the reports, the franchise will be retaining Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma along with Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

SRH reportedly will be shelling out INR 23 crore for Heinrich Klaasen, 5 crores more than the retention slab of the first player, which is 18 crore. The keeper-batter has been sensational for the team ever since he joined the side, slamming nearly 1,000 runs in 35 IPL matches. He slammed 479 runs from 15 innings in IPL 2024, at a strike rate of 171.07.

The reports also claimed that Pat Cummins, on the other hand, will be the second retention and will be retained at INR 18 crore, and India allrounder Abhishek Sharma, who will be the third retention, will stay with the team at INR 14 crore.

It is also learned that Travis Head is also expected to stay with the team. While Nitish Kumar Reddy from Visakhapatnam, who earned his India cap earlier this month, will be retained as well.

All five players were tremendous for SRH last year. Skipper Cummins picked 18 wickets while Abhishek scored 484 runs in 16 games with a strike rate of over 200. Head, on the other hand, was the leading run-getter for the team in the tournament and third in the list of orange cap.

Nitish Reddy ended the tournament with 303 runs scored at 142.92 and three wickets. He recently made his debut for India in the T20I series against Bangladesh, smashing 74 off 34 in his second game.

It remains to be seen will other teams too will follow the policy of SRH retaining players for IPL 2025 at INR 23 crore, 18 crore, and 14 crore.