IPL 2025 Mega Auction: BCCI has raised significant concern among the franchises on the newly added rules in the Right to Match process. The added advantage accruable to the highest bidder indeed subverts the rationale and logic behind the RTM mechanism in the first place.

Under the BCCI’s new retention rules, the highest amount an individual pays at the auction will get him a second opportunity to raise his offer before the team holding the RTM privilege can match it. That means the highest bidder can bet any amount that could be matched by the team with the RTM.

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As the process is explained having franchises within the newest rule the latest rule, as stated above says: If Team 1 has the RTM for Player X and Team 2 puts up the highest bid of ₹6 crores. Then Team 1 will be given a prior right if they wish to exercise the RTM, while if Team 1 exercises, Team 2 will get the chance to increase the bid. For instance, if Team 2 chooses to increase the offer by ₹9 crores, then Team 1 can exercise their RTM and get Player X at that price, but if Team 2 wants to stick to the offered ₹6 crores, then the player comes to Team 1 at that lower amount.

Franchises argue that the crux of the RTM process lies in determining the actual market value of a player and getting teams to better an arbitrarily higher does not aid in achieving this objective. However, BCCI officials clarified that the amount bid can be anything, which in a way dilutes the meaning of incremental increases at this stage. Some franchises have already lodged their complaints to BCCI, while others are negotiating with its officials.

It has also been contended that this new policy is antithetical to the very purpose of BCCI in bringing superstars into the fray in the form of an auction. Setting retention prices of the top-ranked at ₹18 crores and ₹14 crore reflects the discouragement of franchises to exercise the retention. To many, the new RTM clause doesn’t jell well with the objectives of BCCI as franchises might retain it instead of getting the RTM option.

The future of the RTM process is an interesting and contested topic that is going to garner increasing interest and debate from both franchises and cricket fans as events unfold.

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