IPL 2025: As the Indian Premier League 2025 Mega Auction approaches, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released a detailed timeline and guidelines for the two-day event, highlighting important aspects such as the Right to Match (RTM) option and bidding procedures. This year’s auction is set to feature exciting dynamics and fierce competition as franchises look to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season.
Key RTM Guidelines And Bidding Process
One of the key updates in the auction process relates to the Right to Match (RTM) option. According to the BCCI’s advisory, the raised bid when using an RTM card does not have to be a rounded figure, meaning teams can increase their bid by any amount during the auction. This new clause has generated mixed reactions from franchises, who are strategizing how to make the best use of their 14 RTM cards available across the 10 franchises.
Marquee Players To Headline The Auction
The auction will kick off with the highly anticipated marquee player sets. These players are expected to take up a significant portion of the INR 641.5 crore total purse available for the teams.
Marquee Set 1: Jos Buttler, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Mitchell Starc.
Marquee Set 2: Yuzvendra Chahal, Liam Livingstone, David Miller, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.
These sets are expected to drive much of the action on Sunday (November 24), with bidding set to begin at 3:30 PM IST (1 PM local time).
| Session | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee Lots | Sunday, November 24 | Bidding for marquee players to begin the auction. |
| Lunch Break | Sunday, November 24 | Break following the marquee lots session. |
| Capped Batters, All-Rounders, and Wicketkeepers | Sunday, November 24 | Bidding for capped batters, all-rounders, and wicketkeepers. |
| 15-Minute Break | Sunday, November 24 | Short break before continuing with capped bowlers. |
| Capped Bowlers | Sunday, November 24 | Bidding for capped bowlers. |
| 10-Minute Break | Sunday, November 24 | Break before the first uncapped players set. |
| First Uncapped Players Set | Monday, November 25 | Includes players like Faf du Plessis, Kane Williamson, Prithvi Shaw, and Ajinkya Rahane. |
This table provides a clear breakdown of the auction schedule and what to expect during each phase.
Day 2: Fast-Tracking And Accelerated Process
On Day 2 (Monday), the auction will continue with the remaining players, starting with Player No. 116 and continuing with the regular process. Once the players from this range are auctioned, the event will shift into an accelerated process. In this phase, franchises will submit a list of 25 players they want fast-tracked, to streamline the bidding for the remaining slots.
Slots Available: Teams Look To Fill 204 Positions
The auction will see 577 players up for grabs, with a potential 204 slots available across the franchises, including up to 70 overseas players. The competition will be fierce as teams aim to strengthen their squads with new talent, making the IPL 2025 Mega Auction one of the most exciting events of the year.
