Debate Over BCCI's Revised Right to Match Rule in IPL Auction

The BCCI's reintroduction of the Right to Match (RTM) rule is causing concern among franchises as they get ready for the upcoming players' auction.

The RTM, used in past auctions, lets teams match the highest bid for a player they want to keep. This helps teams retain important players and ensures a fair market value.

Earlier this month, the BCCI announced new retention rules and auction regulations ahead of the 2025 mega auction.

However, recent changes to the RTM process have raised concerns among franchises, many of whom believe the updated version undermines competitive bidding.

Under the new rules, the highest bidder can raise their bid again before the team with the RTM decides to keep the player. It allows franchises to increase the final bid unexpectedly, benefiting the team that originally bid the most.

For example, if Team 1 has the RTM for a player and Team 2 bids INR 6 crore, Team 1 can decide to use their RTM.

If they do, Team 2 can increase their bid to INR 8 crore, and Team 1 must match that amount to keep the player.

Franchises believe that this change shifts the balance of power and dilutes the purpose of the RTM.

RTM was introduced to help franchise secure a player at a fair market price; however, the new process allows for arbitrary increases.

The new option makes it difficult for RTM-holding teams to compete.

Many believe this will mainly benefit wealthier franchises and disrupt the auction process.

Some teams have formally complained to the BCCI, claiming that the rule penalizes them by forcing them to match inflated bids that do not reflect the player's true market value.

Franchises also argue that this rule change could make it harder for the BCCI to create a balanced auction.

The governing body has already set high retention fees—INR 18 crore for the fourth-ranked player and INR 14 crore for the fifth-ranked player—to stop teams from holding onto too many top players.