Two Saudi Arabian cities on BCCI minds to host IPL 2025 mega auction in November – Report

New Delhi: The upcoming Indian Premier League mega auction is likely to be held in one of the Saudi Arabian cities among Riyadh and Jeddah, according to a report. Although Dubai in the UAE (where IPL 2024 auction was held) remains an option, but currently not in BCCI’s mind. The IPL 2025 mega auction is likely to take place at November end.

Based on a Cricbuzz report, finances are not a problem for BCCI as they are the richest cricketing board in the world, but finding a suitable venue is. It has been learnt that the costs are much higher in Saudi Arabia than in Dubai. London as a venue for IPL 2025 mega auction was initially discussed, but the BCCI chose not to travel to the United Kingdom due to cold weather that time.

The BCCI and IPL officials are looking for a place where they can host the entire IPL entourage – which includes representatives of 10 IPL teams, BCCI and IPL officials, and two large teams of broadcasters – Jio and Disney Star. The IPL 2025 mega auction is going to be a two-day affair.

Earlier, the IPL governing Council circulated the IPL 2025 player retention rules with  few modified ones.

• The IPL franchises can retain a total of 6 players from their existing squad. This can be either via retention or by using the Right to Match (RTM) option.
• It is at the discretion of the IPL franchise to choose their combination for Retentions and RTMs. The 6 retentions / RTM’s can have a maximum of 5 capped players (Indian & Overseas) and a maximum of 2 uncapped players.
• The auction purse for the franchises has been set at INR 120 Crore for IPL 2025. The total salary cap will now consist of auction purse, incremental performance pay and match fees. Previously in 2024, the total salary cap (auction purse + incremental performance pay) was Rs. 110 Crs which will now be Rs. 146 Crs (2025), Rs. 151 Crs (2026) and Rs. 157 Crs (2027).
• A match fee has been introduced for the first time in the history of IPL. Each Playing member (Including the Impact Player) will get a match fee of Rs 7.5 Lakhs per match. This will be in addition to his contracted amount.
• Any Overseas Player will have to register for the Big Auction. In case the overseas player doesn’t register, then he will be ineligible to register in the following year’s player auction.
• Any player who registers in the player auction and after getting picked at the auction, makes himself unavailable before the start of the season, will get banned from participating in the tournament and player auction for 2 Seasons.
• A capped Indian player will become uncapped, if the player has in the last five calendar years preceding the year in which the relevant Season is held, not played in the starting XI in International Cricket (Test match, ODI, Twenty20 International) or does not have a Central Contract with BCCI. This will be applicable for Indian Players only.
• The Impact Player Regulation will continue for the 2025 to 2027 cycle.