Franchises may face a significant challenge retaining players ahead of the IPL 2028 Mega Auction. According to a report, some prominent players have demanded retention fees of up to ₹40 crore to remain with their current teams. At least two prominent players have reportedly indicated to their franchises that they may leave and enter the auction if they don’t receive the desired amount. However, the BCCI or any franchise has yet to officially confirm the players’ names and their demands.

Franchises are facing increased tension ahead of the IPL 2028 Mega Auction, with players demanding ₹40 crore for retention.

Players put a condition of Rs 40 crore for retention

According to a report by cricket website Cricbuzz, some prominent IPL players have demanded up to 40 crore rupees from their franchises for retention. It is being reported that at least two players have made it clear to their teams that they are only willing to stay if they receive this amount.

Some other star players are also expected to follow suit. Players believe that if franchises are unwilling to pay their expected price, entering the auction may be a better option, where other teams may also bid for them.

The report also suggests that a key player’s demands include the condition of captaincy. This means the matter isn’t just about money, but also about team roles and leadership.

Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer have already shown the way to the auction.

Players opting out of retention and entering the auction is not a new phenomenon in the IPL. In the IPL 2025 mega auction, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer also tried their luck at the auction instead of being retained by their former franchises.

Both players benefited significantly from this. Lucknow Super Giants bought Rishabh Pant for ₹27 crore (270 million rupees), while Punjab Kings spent ₹26.75 crore (267.5 million rupees) on Shreyas Iyer. Both players’ prices set new IPL auction records at the time.

This same auction strategy is now being considered a major reason behind the reported demand of ₹40 crore. However, the amount a player will receive at auction will depend on the interest and bidding of other franchises.

IPL 2028 Mega Auction: Teams’ purse could be Rs 150 crore

A major concern for franchises is the gap between player demands and their total budgets. According to reports, the total purse for each team could increase to around ₹150 crore by the time of the IPL 2028 mega auction. However, the BCCI has not yet officially announced this figure.

Understand the math. If a franchise has a total budget of ₹150 crore (₹1.5 billion) and pays ₹40 crore (₹40 crore) to a player, approximately 26.67 percent of its total purse will be spent on just one player. This will leave ₹1.1 billion (₹1.1 billion) to buy the remaining players and maintain team balance.

This could create challenges for franchises that need to retain multiple big players at once. They will have to balance the demands of star players with the needs of the entire team.

Franchisees will also keep an eye on retention rules

The final calculation of player retention fees will also depend on BCCI regulations. Prior to the IPL 2025 mega auction, fixed retention fees were in place at ₹18 crore, ₹14 crore, and ₹11 crore. However, franchises were free to pay players more than this, but the actual payment was required to be disclosed.

Therefore, the new retention rules and purse limits that will be implemented for IPL 2028 will play a key role in determining franchises’ strategies. Currently, the ₹40 crore demand is based on reports. This should not be considered a fixed player salary or a BCCI approval.

Will the math of player prices change before IPL 2028?

If the franchises agree to the ₹40 crore (₹400 million) demand, it could usher in a new era of player pricing in the IPL. This could also increase the competition between top Indian and foreign players at the auction. On the other hand, franchises will have to make decisions based on their team strength, captaincy, and available budget.

There’s still time for the IPL 2028 mega auction to begin. The picture will only become clearer once official information regarding player names, final retention amounts, and the BCCI’s new rules are released.