No More Mitchell Starc getting 25 Crores in IPL Auction!! BCCI sets a CAP on foreign players' bids

The Indian Premier League has introduced a game-changing rule that will change the auction drama for overseas players.

To address the franchise's concerns over skyrocketing bids during mini-auctions, the IPL Governing Council and BCCI have made it mandatory for foreign stars to register for the mega auction so that no player can earn an unfair sum during the selective mini-auctions.

The reason behind this move is that the teams have been shelling out record-breaking sums to fill key gaps in their rosters during mini-auctions, leaving the agents and players with an open door to make the most of the opportunity.

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IPL Introduces mandatory mega auction registration for overseas Players

The 2024 mini-auction was a perfect example of this frenzy, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) splurging jaw-dropping amounts on Australia’s Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

Cummins was snatched up by SRH for INR 20.50 crore, while Starc got a staggering INR 24.75 crore deal with KKR, which stunned the cricket world. To control this roaring spending, the IPL has rolled out a two-pronged strategy.

First and foremost, any overseas player must now register for the IPL mega auction if they want to be eligible for the mini-auction.

Those who fail to sign up for the mega auction will be sidelined from the mini-auction altogether, with exceptions only granted for verified medical reasons confirmed by the player’s home cricket board.

Additionally, the IPL has also introduced a maximum fee cap for overseas players at mini-auctions. No player’s price can exceed the lesser of either INR 18 crore or the highest bid placed in the preceding mega auction.

This means even if the bidding war for a star player pushes beyond INR 20 crore in the mega auction, their price at the mini-auction will be capped at INR 18 crore or lower, depending on the outcome of the initial auction.

BCCI imposes a cap to control overseas player bids in IPL mini-auctions

The IPL said in an official press release: “Any overseas player will have to register for the big auction. In case the player does not register, then he will have to miss the subsequent small auction. The only exception will be in case of an injury or medical condition, which will have to be confirmed by the player's home board before the big auction.

Any overseas player's auction fee at the small auction will be lower than the highest retention price [of INR 18 crore] or the highest auction price at the big auction. In case the highest auction price at a big auction is INR 20 crore, then INR 18 crore will be the cap. If the highest auction price at the big auction is INR 16 crore, then the cap will be INR 16 crore.”

Moving forward, the auction process for players will proceed as usual until the player is sold, with the full winning bid being deducted from the team's auction budget. However, if the final bid exceeds INR 16 or 18 crore (depending on the set cap), the extra amount beyond that will be directed to the BCCI, and it will be used towards “players' welfare.”