Some of the Indian Premier League‘s biggest players are seeking retention contracts worth ₹40 crore (approx. USD 4.3 million) ahead of the IPL 2028 mega auction, potentially forcing franchises to reconsider how much they are prepared to spend on their leading stars, according to a report by Cricbuzz journalist Vijay Tagore.
At least two players have communicated their financial expectations to their respective franchises, with one demand also linked to captaincy. Others could pursue similar arrangements if they believe entering the auction would secure them more lucrative contracts. Although formal discussions over the next auction’s financial framework have yet to take place, the emerging demands could complicate retention decisions for teams seeking to preserve their core squads.
Rising player valuations reshape IPL negotiations
The financial expectations follow a significant increase in player valuations during the IPL 2025 mega auction, when Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer both secured record-breaking contracts after entering the auction rather than remaining with their previous franchises.
Lucknow Super Giants acquired Pant for ₹27 crore (approx. USD 2.9 million), while Punjab Kings signed Iyer for ₹26.75 crore (approx. USD 2.9 million). Their contracts demonstrated the potential financial rewards available to established players willing to test the auction market.
Bigger auction purse could support higher salaries
The financial feasibility of such contracts will depend heavily on the spending limits established for the next IPL cycle.
Franchises operated with an auction purse of ₹120 crore (approx. USD 12.8 million) during the 2025 mega auction. That figure has since increased to ₹130 crore (approx. USD 13.8 million) for the 2027 season, while the 2028 mega auction purse could reach approximately ₹150 crore (approx. USD 16 million).
Under that projected limit, a single ₹40 crore retention would consume approximately 26.7% of a franchise’s total auction budget. The remaining funds would need to accommodate other retained players and the acquisitions required to complete the squad.
IPL auction purses have expanded considerably since the competition began in 2008, when teams were allocated ₹20 crore (approx. USD 2.13 million). The amount increased to ₹60 crore (approx. USD 6.4 million) in 2014, ₹80 crore (approx. USD 8.6 million) in 2018 and ₹90 crore (approx. USD 9.6 million) in 2022.
Further increases have traditionally been associated with the value of the IPL’s media rights. The next rights cycle is due to go on sale in 2027, although the proposed 2028 auction purse has not yet been formally discussed or confirmed.
BCCI retention rules will influence franchise decisions
The Board of Control for Cricket in India‘s retention framework will be another important factor in determining whether franchises can accommodate the higher salary expectations.
For the mega auction conducted in 2024 ahead of IPL 2025, the prescribed retention slabs included ₹18 crore (approx. USD 1.9 million), ₹14 crore (approx. USD 1.5 million) and ₹11 crore (approx. USD 1.2 million).
Those figures did not prevent franchises from agreeing to higher individual salaries, provided the actual amounts were declared. Sunrisers Hyderabad retained Heinrich Klaasen for ₹23 crore (approx. USD 2.5 million), while Lucknow Super Giants retained Nicholas Pooran for ₹21 crore (approx. USD 2.2 million).
Under the BCCI‘s rules for that auction, franchises retaining five players faced a minimum purse deduction of ₹75 crore (approx. USD 8 million). The regulations specified: “If the combined amount exceeded INR 75 crore, the actual amount was deducted. If it was lower, the deduction remained INR 75 crore.”
Consequently, the eventual financial impact of the new demands will depend not only on individual contracts but also on the retention slabs and total purse deductions adopted for the next cycle.
Could the IPL reconsider its retention system?
The growing financial stakes also bring renewed attention to an alternative approach discussed before the previous mega auction: removing direct player retentions and allowing franchises to rely entirely on Right to Match (RTM) options.
Under that proposal, players would enter the auction, allowing bidding to establish their contract values rather than having those amounts negotiated through retention agreements.
Supporters of the approach argued that it could protect franchises from committing excessive sums before the auction. However, concerns were raised that teams anticipating an RTM opportunity could influence bidding behaviour, potentially pushing player prices beyond their underlying market value.
Eliminating retentions would also represent a substantial change to an arrangement that has been part of the IPL’s auction system since the competition’s inception.
Franchises face decisions beyond the upcoming mini auction
The immediate focus remains on preparations for IPL 2027, with the mini auction scheduled for December 16, 2026, in Goa. The player retention and release deadline for that season has been extended to November 17.
Unlike a mega auction, the upcoming mini auction allows franchises to maintain much of their existing squads while making targeted changes within the applicable squad and financial limits.
The more significant financial decisions will come ahead of the 2028 mega auction, when franchises must assess which players to retain and how much of their available budgets to allocate to individual contracts.
For now, the proposed higher salaries remain player demands rather than agreed retention deals. Their eventual viability will depend on the BCCI’s next auction rules, the confirmed franchise purse and the financial priorities of individual teams.
