Some teams are not happy with the changes in the rules of IPL mega auction. The biggest controversy is regarding the change in the Right to Match rule. Some teams have also expressed their objection by writing a letter to BCCI.
The board implemented the league’s new retention policy on September 28, which saw the return of the Right to Match card rule. According to this rule, if teams are unable to retain a player, they can retain him by using the Right to Match card in the mega auction. However, there is a change in this which the teams are not liking.
Suppose, Mumbai Indians did not retain Rohit Sharma. His name came up in the auction and he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 10 crore. Now if Mumbai wants, they can use the RTM card and keep Rohit with them for Rs 10 crore.
1. Which rule has caused controversy? The Right to Match card has been brought back in the new retention policy. This is the rule that has caused controversy. According to this rule, teams can keep their non-retained (who have not been retained) players with them during the auction if they want.
2. What has changed in the rule of Right to Match card? This time a new clause was added. According to which the teams bidding on the non-retained player will have the opportunity to increase the price of the player after the Right to Match card. Suppose, Chennai Super Kings retained 5 players and they have one RTM card left. The team could not retain Moeen Ali. Now if Hyderabad buys Moeen for Rs 6 crore in the auction, then Chennai can use its RTM card to keep Moeen in its team.
According to the new clause, if Hyderabad bids 6 crores for Moeen and CSK uses the RTM card, then Hyderabad can increase that price to 9 or 10 crores. Now if CSK uses the RTM card, they will have to buy Moeen at the increased price. If CSK does not use the RTM card, then Moeen will go to Hyderabad at the increased price.
3. Why is there controversy over this clause? This clause will cause loss to the team that uses the Right to Match card. Either it will have to pay more money or it will have to release the player.
4. What do the franchises say? Some franchises have written a letter to the board saying that this rule will be weakened by additional opportunities. The purpose of the Right to Match card is to determine the market value of the player. If a franchise bids arbitrarily on the player and the franchise using the card has to pay that price, then this purpose will not be fulfilled.
5. What is the board’s logic behind the new clause? While announcing the new retention policy, the board had said on the Right to Match card rule that the highest bidder should be given one last chance to increase his bid for the player. Only after this can the team holding the Right to Match card exercise its right. The board had also said that this bid can be as big as it wants.
6. How many Right to Match cards can be used? Each team can use a maximum of 6 Right to Match cards in the auction. This card can be used only if the team has not retained any player. That is, if the number of retained players increases, the number of Right to Match cards will decrease.
