In the dynamic world of the Indian Premier League (IPL)the ‘Right to Match’ (RTM) card has been a key strategic tool for franchises during player auctions. Introduced by the IPL Governing Council before the 2018 season, the RTM card allows teams to retain a player who had previously been part of their squad but had been released into the auction pool.

RTM option to be used in the IPL 2025 Auction

According to the new retention rules released by the IPL Governing Council on Saturday, the team owners can retain a total of 6 players from their existing squad. This can be either via retention or by the use of RTM card at the IPL 2025 Auction. It means the IPL franchises can opt for a maximum six retentions, including the RTM option.

What is RTM card?

The RTM card is essentially a mechanism that gives franchises the right to “match” the highest bid made by another team for one of their former players, thereby retaining that player in their squad. This rule was designed to provide teams with a safety net to keep their core players, while still adhering to auction dynamics and salary caps.

For example, if Rinku Singh is being auctioned and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) makes the highest bid of INR 7 crores, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rinku’s current franchise, will have the first right to match that bid. If KKR exercises their RTM, CSK will be given another opportunity to increase their bid. If CSK raises it to INR 8 crores, KKR can again match the bid and retain Rinku for INR 8 crores.

How the RTM card works at the IPL Auction?

Here’s how the RTM card functions during the IPL auction:

• Auction begins: A player is placed up for bidding, and franchises start placing their bids.
• Final Bid: Once the final bid for the player is reached, the auctioneer asks if the player’s former franchise would like to use their RTM card.
• Use of RTM: If the team decides to use the RTM card, they retain the player at the final bid price. The original bidding team does not get the player despite having won the auction.
• Strategic Decision: The decision to use the RTM card must be made immediately during the auction and can impact the team’s overall budget, as they must adhere to salary caps.

Limitations of the RTM card

• Eligibility: The RTM card can only be used for players who were part of the franchise’s previous squad.
• Budget Constraints: Even if a team wants to use an RTM card, they must have enough budget remaining to match the highest bid made for the player.

RTM in previous IPL auctions

The RTM card has been a game-changer in past auctions. For example, during the 2018 IPL auction, teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) used their RTM card to retain their star all-rounder Andre Russell, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) retained their mystery spinner Rashid Khan using the RTM option.