BCCI and IPL Franchise Owners Meet-Up Confirmed: A Comprehensive Discussion on Player Retentions and RTMs
Hemang Amin, the CEO of IPL, texted franchise owners on July 25, signaling that a formal invitation with the event's location and time would be sent soon. The meeting is anticipated to be held in the late afternoon or evening, with all franchise owners affirming their attendance.
Cricbuzz was the first to report that the long-awaited meeting should occur by the end of July. Speculation around the precise number of player retentions per team abounds, with the most likely figure being relatively low. Various suggestions have been put forth by team owners, ranging from one to eight retentions. However, BCCI is expected to give a moderate verdict, probably five or six.
The logic of limiting retentions is to prevent the auction process from becoming dull by setting a high retention number. If each team were allowed to keep up to eight players, the top 80 cricketers across India and globally would be disqualified from the auction, resulting in a potentially dull event.
The discussion for eight retentions is primarily due to the continuity it would provide, particularly for players who have proved indispensable for their teams. The counter-argument contends that retaining 5-6 players is enough to retain a team's core for image and brand building purposes, ensuring a competitive auction environment.
The Right To Match (RTM) option, another bone of contention that may arise in the meeting, is likely to have been previously decided by BCCI. The RTM option was not a part of the 2021 mega auction, even though it allows players to be sold at their market value. Its disadvantage, however, is the possible manipulation of auction prices, which may compel franchises to spend more of their budget to retain crucial players.
Clear divisions exist among IPL franchise owners on the issues of player retentions and RTMs. BCCI will undoubtedly need to mediate these contrasting perspectives in order to reach a universally satisfactory resolution.
