BCCI needs more time to decide on IPL retention rules as announcement delayed till September end

The Indian Cricket Board(BCCI) needs more time before announcing the revised IPL retention rules.

The decision, expected to be made public by the end of August, could be delayed until September end, around the 29th, when the Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place in Bengaluru. Although BCCIhasn't officially announced the decision release date, recent reports suggest that the information has been circulatedamong team owners and stakeholders.

According to Cricbuzz, there is no direct link between the AGM and IPL policies, but an earlier announcement wouldn't be surprising either. However, the growing belief in the IPL circuit suggests that BCCI might take at least ten days or two weeks to announce their decision. BCCI officials have hinted at the delay to franchise owners, who have been inquiring about the retention rules.

Regardless of when BCCI makes the announcement, all ten IPL teams have until November 15 this year to finalise their retention lists. The next mega IPL auction, scheduled for December this year, will feature the Right to Match (RTM) card option, which was absent in 2022.

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Earlier, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) CEO Kasi Viswanath revealed that the BCCI proposed considering retired players (who retired at least five years ago) in the uncapped category, potentially boosting MS Dhoni's chances of playing another season.

Dhoni announced his international retirement on August 15, 2020, and with five years completed, he could be retained as an uncapped player with a lower value if BCCI implements this policy.

However, allowing retired players to join the IPL auction might not significantly impact its budget. The BCCI will adjust the budget based on the number of players each team retains, enabling teams to determine player prices without assigning a specific value to each retained player.

Besides, some IPL teams have altered their leadership groups, with Rajasthan Royals appointing former captain and mentor Rahul Dravid as their new head coach. Delhi Capitals have parted ways with head coach Ricky Ponting, while IPL 2024 winners Kolkata Knight Riders are seeking a high-profile replacement for Gautam Gambhir as their new mentor.

All teams have begun finalising their potential retention lists.

(With inputs from agencies)