IPL 2025 Auction: Learn about RTM Card and its uses

The IPL 2025 mega auction promises to be an exciting event, with teams having the opportunity to revamp their squads significantly. The RTM card will be crucial in allowing franchises to retain key players at competitive prices, ensuring a dynamic and balanced auction process.

The Right to Match (RTM) card is a strategic tool used by IPL franchises during the auction to retain a player who was part of their squad in the previous season. The RTM card allows a franchise to match the highest bid made for one of their former players and retain him by paying the same amount. The RTM card was first used in the IPL 2014 auction.

How does an RTM card work in the IPL Auction?

Each franchise can use a limited number of RTM cards during the auction. The franchise must match the highest bid to retain the player. The RTM card is used during the auction when a player, previously part of a franchise, is bid on by other teams. If a franchise wants to retain the player, they can use the RTM card to match the highest bid and secure the player’s services.

Will RTM be used in the IPL 2025 Auction?

The RTM card was not used in the IPL 2022 auction because it included two new teams, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, which necessitated a different retention strategy to ensure a balanced distribution of players across all teams. The RTM card will be available in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

This auction will allow teams to shuffle their squads significantly after two mini-auctions in 2023 and 2024. The RTM card enables franchises to retain key players from their previous squads. Each team can use a limited number of RTM cards during the mega auction. The exact number is subject to the final rules set by the BCCI, but discussions suggest that franchises may be allowed up to seven retentions through RTM cards in addition to one retention ahead of the auction.

How many RTM cards a team can use in the IPL 2025 Auction?

The IPL franchise owners are keen on having the ability to retain players through RTM cards. The BCCI meeting with franchise owners will finalize the retention and RTM card rules for the IPL 2025 mega auction. Current reports indicate that the BCCI favors the existing 3+1 retention structure, despite some franchise owners suggesting alternatives like zero direct retentions but eight RTM cards to ensure fair market prices and continuity.