Kavya Maran hints at big changes in IPL auction, says “We can use…”

Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Kavya Maran has backed the call to increase the number of player retentions for each team ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. During the IPL owners’ meeting at the BCCI headquarters on Wednesday, Maran explained that each team must have at least six retentions or six RTM (Right To Match) options to preserve the core of their respective rosters. “We can use it as four holds and two RTMS, or all six holds, or all six RTMS and so on. The choice to use a hold or RTM should be up to the franchise based on discussions with the player.”

“There have been several cases in the past where a player preferred to go to auction when he felt the retention value was on the lower side. There were also cases where several players felt they should be the first to retain. , and if they are not retained as first, they will ask to be put up for auction. To avoid this, we can give players the chance to be retained or RTM at the price discovered by the market, ensuring that the player is not unhappy with it. the price of retention.”

“If only retainers are allowed, there is a good possibility that franchises will pay their retained players more than the retainer value through side contracts. But with RTMs, a player gets the market price at auction within the restrictions of the exchange and this will ensure that the wallet decides and restricts the purchasing power of all franchises and not the franchise’s bank balance… It will also guarantee the transparency and will maintain the integrity of a brand as prestigious as the IPL,” he explained.

The SRH owner also said during the meeting that any cricketer who fails to appear in the tournament despite being selected in the auction should be banned if he does not have a serious injury.

“After being selected at the auction, if a player fails to show up to play for the season for any reason other than injury, he should be banned,” she said.