Franchises briefed ✅
Rules explained ✅
Players set to go under the hammer ✅Just one sleep away from VIVO #IPLAuction 2021 🙌🤙 pic.twitter.com/ctPntkaHMo
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) February 17, 2021
Here we take a look at the top SIX rules of IPL 2021 auction which is must for all teams to follow.
Rule 1 – No buying beyond the allotted Auctions Player Purse: IPL GC decided not to increase the size of the player purse which means franchises will have to do shopping with the same purse limit of 85 Crores as it was the case in IPL 2019-20. Notably, the remaining purse of all the eight teams – CSK, MI, RCB, SRH, DC, RR, KXP and KKR is decided on the factor that how many players each team retain and trade, and while the retention process was finalized on 20 January, the IPL 2021 trade window is still open and it will close on 11th February 2021 at 5:00 PM.
Rule 3 No RTM card: As it is a mini-auction, neither of the franchise will have an option to use RTM or Right to match card to retain a player. Notably, RTM is only available for mega-auction where the franchises can use it to retain a player by paying the exact amount so as to match the winning bid for that particular player.
Rule 4 IPL Auction Rules on Squad Strength: The maximum squad strength for each team is that of 25 players. However, every team must have at least 18 players in their respective squads.
Rule 5 Indian Players (Capped and Uncapped): A team can have a minimum of 17 and a maximum of 25 Indian players in their squad, both capped and uncapped.
Rule 6 International Players: A team can have a maximum of eight International players in their squad.
IPL 2021 auction: How are IPL Mega Auction Rules different from IPL Auctions Rules?
IPL Mini Auctions and IPL Mega Auctions are not the same event. IPL Mega Auctions are held once every three years whereas IPL Auctions are held every year within that three year period. Auctions are held to ensure that teams get an opportunity to refresh their team balance as well as it’s an opportunity for players all around the world and especially Indian uncapped players to enter the Indian Premier League.
The only big difference between IPL Auctions and IPL Mega Auctions is – before an IPL Mega Auctions each team can retain only five of their players at maximum. However in IPL Auction a.k.a. IPL mini Auctions, there is no limit on the number of players which any particular franchisee could retain.
Another difference is that for the IPL Mega Auctions, each team also gets ‘Right to Match’ cards. The RTM card can be used by an IPL team owner to match the winning auction amount for one of their ex-players to buy back that particular player’s contract. In other words if a team has not retained a particular player but who was a part of their last squad and has now been bought by another team, they can use the ‘Right to Match’ card, and buy the player’s contract by matching the winning bid. Every team gets a maximum of three and a minimum of two RTM cards in the Mega Auctions depending on the number of players they have retained using the direct method.
| IPL 2021/ Squad Size/Salary Cap/Available Slots | ||||||
| Franchise | No of Players | No of Overseas Players | Total money spent (Rs.) | Salary cap available (Rs.) | Available Slots | Overseas Slots |
| CSK | 18 | 7 | 62.10 | 22.90 | 7 | 1 |
| DC | 19 | 6 | 72.0982 | 12.9018 | 6 | 2 |
| KXIP | 16 | 3 | 31.80 | 53.20 | 9 | 5 |
| KKR | 17 | 6 | 74.25 | 10.75 | 8 | 2 |
| MI | 18 | 4 | 69.65 | 15.35 | 7 | 4 |
| RR | 17 | 5 | 50.15 | 34.85 | 8 | 3 |
| RCB | 12 | 4 | 49.10 | 35.90 | 13 | 4 |
| SRH | 22 | 7 | 74.25 | 10.75 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 139 | 42 | 483.39 | 196.60 | 61 | 22 |