IPL 2025: BCCI Looks for Saudi Arabia as Venue for Mega Auction
BCCI is looking at Riyadh and Jeddah as possible destinations for the much-awaited IPL 2025 mega auction that is scheduled to take place in the last week of November. It was earlier considered to be held in Dubai, however not anymore. The BCCI officials are said to have found it challenging to source a suitable venue or hotel in Saudi Arabia since the costs have gone higher than what it used to be in Dubai where the last IPL auction took place successfully in December 2023. Even though the Indian Premier League franchises and BCCI boast of financial muscles, the search for the right location seems tight. London First Perturbation London was initially considered, but BCCI removed the UK from their list citing unfavourable cold weather at this time of the year. Now, they are eyeing a venue that will easily accommodate an auction spread over two days and a huge IPL entourage involving 10 franchise representatives and other major broadcasters like Jio and Disney Star. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
All You Need To Know About GMR Group’s Deal With Hampshire
Hampshire announces the deal with GMR Group, becoming the first English county cricket club owned by an overseas investor. Here’s what the deal means in practice. Have Delhi Capitals bought Hampshire? Not exactly. Delhi Capitals is a 50-50 joint venture between the two sports arms of Indian conglomerates JSW Group and GMR Group. GMR had bought the Delhi franchise – then called Delhi Daredevils – before the first season of the IPL in 2008 and sold 50% to JSW in 2018. GMR are the only relevant party in the Hampshire deal. Who are GMR and why have they invested in cricket? The GMR group describe themselves as a leading infrastructure developer who own and manage projects in a number of different areas. They own and run six airports, including Delhi and Hyderabad. GMR says its sports division has the social objective of promoting and nurturing potential talent at the grassroot level in Delhi while the IPL has proved a lucrative investment: having paid US$84 million for the Delhi franchise in 2008, they sold a 50% stake in 2018 for US$66m. Do GMR own any other teams? Yes. GMR are the owners of Dubai Capitals in the UAE’s ILT20, India Capitals in the Legends League Cricket (LLC) and have a stake in Seattle Orcas (MLC). JSW, their IPL co-owners, run Pretoria Capitals in South Africa’s SA20 and the two companies also co-own Delhi Capitals Women in India’s WPL. GMR also owns teams in kabaddi and kho-kho. Has GMR taken over at Hampshire? Hampshire Cricket announced on Monday morning that GMR have bought a majority stake – reported to be 53%-in Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Ltd, with a full buyout to be completed in two years. Rod Bransgrove, chair, and David Mann, chief executive, will stay in place until that two-year period has elapsed. What does this mean for the Hundred? In effect, the ECB began the process of disposing stakes in the eight Hundred teams at the beginning of the month. Under this model, the ECB would sell 49% stakes in every team to private investors and transfer 51% to the host venue or county, which in Southern Brave’s case would be Hampshire. Will GMR become the majority owners of Southern Brave by default? No, it isn’t. The ECB’s sales process contains a clause which allows the ECB the discretion whether or not to sell 51% stakes to hosts. They can decide to hold onto it if they feel that an investor is trying to bypass the wider sale process or buying a franchise up the backstairs. The deal is not dependent on getting a Hundred franchise. But in reality…? The ECB have consulted with every franchise in the IPL and WPL to invest into Hundred teams, and GMR seem very likely to make a bid for the remaining 49% in the sales process of Southern Brave. If GMR’s bid is accepted by the ECB as being at fair market value, Hampshire would then be sold the other 51% and GMR would, therefore, be considered 100% owners of the Hundred franchise. What’s in it for Hampshire? Most obviously, money. Hampshire said in a statement that the deal was designed to strengthen the financial position of their parent company, which also runs the on-site hotel and golf course at the Utilita Bowl. GMR will provide a material injection of capital to reduce the leveraging of the company – in other words, starting to pay off Hampshire’s £60 million debt. Bransgrove said GMR was selected following a rigorous selection process due to its aligned values and commitment to our vision. The Utilita Bowl has awarded the first men’s Ashes Test in 2027, with Bransgrove saying it needed investment to allow Hampshire to remain at the top table. Didn’t Hampshire do something like this previously? Yes. Hampshire were formerly part of a remarkably short-lived tie-in with Rajasthan Royals back in 2010, playing as Hampshire Royals for four years as one of five ‘Royals2020’ teams globally. The arrangement was quietly mothballed after a row between Rajasthan’s owners and the IPL saw the franchise briefly expelled from the competition. What’s Kevin Pietersen got to do with it? Kevin Pietersen played a behind-the-scenes role to try to grease the wheels of the deal as a common link between Bransgrove and GMR’s Kiran Kumar Grandhi. Pietersen played for both Hampshire and Delhi Daredevils (as they were then known) during his playing career. Will Hampshire’s deal be the first of many in county cricket? Maybe, but not straight away. Hampshire are one of only three counties, the others being Durham and Northamptonshire, that are private limited companies rather than member-run mutual ‘societies’, though Yorkshire’s chairman Colin Graves is trying to demutualise the club to unlock the door for private investment. Most of the counties rely on ECB central funding for revenue and therefore might consider private investment as an alternative source. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
BCCI Confirms Match Fees for IPL 2025
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims to provide Indian Premier League (IPL) players with a huge amount when it introduced a match fee for INR 7.5 lakh-a sum of almost $ 9000-to be spent per game from IPL 2025. This will be on top of the match fee of their contracts, whose franchises would have to allocate INR 12.6 crore (approximately US$ 1 million), according to BCCI Secretary Jay Shah on X. Above And Beyond Auction Purse The match fees, of course, add up to INR 90 lakh for each match and over 14 league matches add up to the total payout of INR 12.6 crore in cash for the season. Boost For Low Contract Players The new policy is expected to increase the earnings of those players signed at or near their base price at auctions but have risen in stature over the course of their IPL career. For example, take the case of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Rajat Patidar, who signed initially at an uncapped price of INR 20 lakh. Under this new match fee rule, when Patidar plays 15 IPL 2024 matches, he earns an excess of INR 1.125 crore. The Concerns Of The Franchises Franchise owners did express dissent, however, to the new plan. That reportedly needs to know whether the benchwarmers will be included or not. In earlier times, players were rewarded with discretionary bonuses up to the performance of the team. However, the IPL reportedly will not go beyond the match fee, which was proposed. The final retention rules will shed more light on the issue ahead of the mega auction in 2025. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL 2025 Retention Rules Announced
The wait is finally over! The Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction 2025 retention rules are finally out. Fans have been abuzz, and now, it’s the turn of the IPL Governing Council to make things official. Here’s what the retention rules look like. 1. Retention Limit A franchise is entitled to retain only 6 players from its existing squad. This includes, however, both standard retentions as well as the RTM. 2. Retention And RTM Teams can choose to impact the number of retention and RTMs, however must have an absolute cap of 5 capped players either Indian or overseas and up to 2 uncapped players. 3. Salary Cap The franchise auction purse has been put at INR 120 Crore for IPL 2025. It includes the total salary cap with an auction purse, performance bonuses and new match fees. This amount has increased from 2024’s total of INR 110 Crore and will be INR 146 Crore in 2025, INR 151 Crore in 2026, and INR 157 Crore in 2027. 4. Additional Match Fees For the first time ever, all players including the Impact Player, will be entitled to a match fee of INR 7.5 Lakhs besides his contracted salary on each match played. 5. Overseas Player Registration An overseas player who wants to play will have to get himself registered for the IPL Mega Auction. Any player, not getting himself registered for the Big Auction, cannot attend the following seasons in the auctions. 6. No-Shows Face Consequences Players who are selected at the auction but are unavailable during the season will be banned by the IPL for 2 seasons. 7. Capped And Uncapped Rule Each Indian player who never played in the starting XI for a Test, an ODI or a T20I in the last five years or does not hold a BCCI central contract will be declared as uncapped. This is only applicable to Indian players. 8. Impact Sub Continues The impact player rule remains in force for the IPL 2025–2027 cycle. Now that the official rules are out, let the speculations begin! Which stars will your favorite franchise lock in for the upcoming IPL season? The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL Governing Council to Release New Retention Rules Amid Speculations
The Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council will discuss new retention rules during their meeting in Bengaluru. The much-awaited announcement on the retention rules of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is expected soon, as the IPL Governing Council (GC) convenes today at 11:30 AM at the Four Seasons Hotel in Bengaluru. The notices for the meet were dispatched only on Friday evening, and it is quite evident that the decision-making process has hastened, leading to widespread speculation about the kind of retention policy the BCCI would select. Mega-Auction Expected in November, Possibly in the Gulf The retention rules are expected to come into play big time while determining team strategies before the mega-auction, which is stated to be scheduled tentatively for late November. The auction is likely to happen overseas, and cities in the Gulf are said to be battling for the hosting rights. The strong contender has emerged as Saudi Arabia and Riyadh is likely to host the event if the GC gives nod to it. Retention Decision May Depend On General Body Meeting While an announcement is likely to be made post the much-awaited GC meeting later today, the final decision on retention is now said to await the all-important general body meeting scheduled for Sunday in Bengaluru. It would ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are in symmetry when the official word is spilled. Number of Retentions to Be Speculated Speculations regarding the number of players retained are rife, with some guessing between 2 and 8 players. More than likely, the BCCI will have to compromise on the numbers on the retention list at 5-6 players, along with the right to match. Then owners of the IPL teams are consulted by the BCCI in a July meeting to get their feedback on key matters, including retention. The details are expected to be finalized here today and with that setting the stage for another auction ahead of IPL 2025. Cricket fans can now wait with bated breath for the official announcement. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL 2025 to Stick with 74 Matches Amid Player Workload Concerns
The 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will remain at 74 matches. The same number will be seen as in the last three seasons, despite the IPL having planned for one more game on its initial schedule for next year. According to reports, the IPL had outlined a growing schedule in its media rights tender for the 2023-27 cycle. This was said to project the next two seasons with 84 matches each in 2025 and 2026, then increase to 94 by 2027. Player Load Identified However, the IPL authorities have barred expansion in 2025 as they say that player load for Indians needs to be managed. This relates particularly to the WTC final where India will participate on June 11 at Lord’s, wherein players will need sufficient rest and preparation. BCCI on the Player’s Well-being Confirming recently, the outgoing BCCI secretary Jay Shah said that though the contract allows for up to 84 matches, the board is prioritizing player well-being. He also brought to notice the fact that the discretion to organize the IPL with either 74 or 84 matches each season lies with the BCCI. For 2025, they have opted for the conservative number. Media Rights and Special Package The BCCI sold the media rights of the IPL for 48,390.5 crores in 2022, for a sum approximating USD 6.2 billion, packaged in four categories including one, for instance, which contained high-profile matches such as playoff games. With an increase in the total number of games in the IPL, the number of matches in that special package rose and it included 18 with the total number of games amounting to 74. Had the IPL had been expanded to 84 matches, that special package would have increased to 20 games. IPL Tentative Schedule 2025 It’s not yet officially confirmed, however IPL 2025 probably will take place from mid-March to late May. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
Yash Dayal’s Maiden Test Match Call-Up After 5 Sixes Nightmare
Imagine being the guy whose name resonates with school buses, not in cheers, but rather in taunts. Such was life for nearly a year for Yash Dayal after Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Rinku Singh smashed him for five consecutive sixes in an IPL 2023 game where Dayal was representing the Gujrat Titans (GT). His quiet neighborhood in Allahabad had a new anthem overnight: “Rinkuuuuu Singh, Rinkuuu Singh, five sixes, five sixes!” His father, Chanderpal Dayal, too, stopped going outdoors, lest he became the subject of lots of fun and ridicule. His mother, Radha, stopped eating altogether, trying to understand why her son wasn’t saying a word. Family Power-Up Mode Activated! While most would’ve crumbled, Yash Dayal’s family went full “motivational speaker” on him. His father cited Stuart Broad, who bounced back after being smashed for six sixes by Yuvraj Singh and explained to Yash that he soon is going to represent India. Yash Dayal went into overdrive-changing from “the guy who got hit for five sixes” to “the guy taking wickets for fun.“ RCB to the Rescue Released by the Gujarat Titans, Yash Dayal found a new home in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as IPL 2024 came around. Boy, did he deliver! With 15 wickets in 14 matches, Dayal wasn’t the punchline anymore; he was one of the main guys who took RCB into the playoffs and showed them that he was made of sterner stuff. Redemption Arc: Duleep Trophy Edition The ultimate revenge of Yash Dayal was not some viral social media post but a spell of fire in the Duleep Trophy 2024, in which he knocked over Mayank Agarwal and Riyan Parag in a jiffy. The selectors could no longer look the other way-the call-up came for the India Test squad for the Bangladesh series beginning on September 19, 2024. From Taunts to Triumph It has been a fairytale-like ride from five-sixes humiliation to Test cricket glory for Yash’s family. A chance to make his test match debut, Yash Dayal’s story is about how the best comebacks always happen after the toughest blows-or, in this case, five massive sixes. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
How An Ordinary Mumbai Boy Became A Household Name In Cricket
A young boy from Mumbai dreaming of playing cricket at the highest level spending countless hours on the bustling maidans of the city. That boy is Rohit Sharma and today he’s not just a cricketer but a legend in the making. From The Grassroots Rohit’s journey began in the narrow lanes of Borivali, where he first picked up a bat. As a child he was mesmerized by the game and with every swing, he inched closer to his dream. His raw talent was soon spotted by the Dronacharya Awardee, Mr. Dinesh Lad, who converted Rohit from a raw material to a finished product. Listen From Rohit’s Dronacharya Rohit quickly rose through the ranks, making his debut for Indian Cricket Team in 2007. However it wasn’t an easy ride. Early in his career, consistency eluded him and there were whispers about his potential being unfulfilled. Rohit earned his initial IPL contract at the Deccan Chargers in the inaugural season of the league and then shifted to the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2011 season. Since then Rohit has been the face of Mumbai Indians with his spectacular performances. Shifting To The Top Gear Everything changed in 2013 when Rohit was asked to open the innings in ODIs. It was as if a switch flipped. The world witnessed a different Rohit Sharma—one who could single-handedly change the course of a game. His elegant yet powerful stroke play earned him the nickname “Hitman” and a label that stuck after he smashed multiple double centuries, a record that stands unmatched. Rohit’s Family: A First Priority Beyond the cricket field, Rohit’s life is just as remarkable. He married Ritika Sajdeh in 2015, his close confidante and manager. Their bond is often highlighted in the media, especially their adorable daughter, Samaira, who was born in 2018. Rohit Sharma’s journey from the dusty maidans of Mumbai is a story of perseverance, raw talent and an unyielding love for the game. His rise to becoming one of the most feared openers in cricket didn’t happen overnight—it was the result of years of dedication and an unwavering belief in his abilities. Whether he’s smashing centuries at Wankhede or leading India to victory, Rohit embodies the spirit of a true sportsman. His story isn’t just about records and titles, it’s about inspiring millions to chase their dreams no matter where they start. The Sportz Planet Desk,Nitya Sutrave
Gabbar Calls Time On His Cricketing Career
Shikhar Dhawan, one of India’s most celebrated cricketers, announced his retirement from international cricket after a glorious 14-year stint. The 38-year-old left-handed opening batsman took to social media on Saturday morning, 24th August, 2024 to share the news, leaving behind a legacy that will be cherished by cricket fans worldwide. Retirement Announcement “It’s important to turn the page to move forward in life and that’s why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket,” Dhawan said in a video posted on his social media accounts. “I am leaving with peace in my heart that I played so long for India. I’ve told myself don’t feel sad that you won’t play for India anymore, but feel happy that you played for the country.“ Dhawan’s Final Appearance Dhawan last played competitive cricket in April 2024, turning out as the captain for Punjab Kings in the IPL. Across his international career, he compiled 24 centuries from 269 matches—17 in ODIs and seven in Tests—cementing his status as a modern-day great of the limited-overs format. Dhawan – A Modern Day Great Known for his consistency in ODIs, Dhawan retires as one of only eight players in the format’s history to score more than 5000 runs at an average of plus 40 with a strike rate above 90. Among Indians, he shared the feat with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Dhawan had last represented India in the ODI series against Bangladesh in December 2022. Dhawan’s Test Debut While Dhawan made his mark across all formats, it was his ODI performances that really set him apart. His journey to international stardom began with a sensational Test debut against Australia in Mohali in 2013, where he smashed an 85-ball century—the fastest by a Test debutant—and went on to score 187 runs in a match-winning effort. The Real ‘GABBAR’ Of The Champions Trophy Dhawan’s most prolific year came in 2013 when he scored 1162 runs in ODIs at an average of 50.52 and a strike rate of 97.89. The crowning moment of that year was his outstanding performance in the Champions Trophy, where he scored 363 runs in five innings with two hundreds, which piloted India to victory. This was the start of a potent opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, which, for now, is the fourth-best in ODI history and second-best for India, sitting only behind the legendary opening pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Key Contributions Over the next couple of years, Dhawan continued to excel in multi-team tournaments, topping the charts as India’s highest run-scorer in the 2014 Asia Cup, World Cup 2015, Champions Trophy 2017, and Asia Cup 2018. Thereby, pressure handling developed into his key asset in an India ODI setup. Injury Setback During the 2019 World Cup Dhawan’s ODI career was put on the brakes in 2019 when he got injured on the thumb during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England just after scoring a century against Australia at The Oval. Despite the setback, Dhawan’s contributions were recognized as he was entrusted with captaincy duties for India’s second string sides in the latter half of his career. Gabbar Belting It In The IPL Dhawan has had some success in IPL teams like Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings. Currently, he is the second-highest run-scorer in IPL history, just a run behind Virat Kohli, with 6769 runs from 221 innings, at a strike rate of 127.14. Dhawan’s Domestic Dominance But apart from his international and IPL exploits, Dhawan has also been an important domestic cricketer. He was a part of Delhi’s Ranji Trophy-winning team in the 2007-08 season, while at the Under-19 World Cup in 2004 he was the top run-scorer for India. Farewell to a Legend As Dhawan retires from international cricket, he leaves behind a legacy of being one of India’s greatest ODI players. What he has accomplished as a player and as a leader is for eternity, and the fans will always remember his fearless batting and trademark celebrations. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IPL 2025: Key Takeaways From IPL Franchises And BCCI Meeting
It was a crunch sitting at Wankhede Stadium where owners of IPL franchises sat on Wednesday, 31st July, 2024 to discuss the future of player retention and the highly debated mega auction system. It soon changed into a heated debate regarding the relevance and sustainability of the mega auction, and a huge divide among franchises became evident. Key Figures Raise Their Concerns It was inside a meeting on the fourth floor of the BCCI headquarters that some of the biggest names in the IPL ownership circle lambasted the mega auction. Shah Rukh Khan, owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Kavya Maran were the most vocal against the mega auction, asking for it to be scrapped. Both teams were finalists in the IPL 2024 and hence, the owners argued that the present structure disrupts the continuity of a team, which is a precondition for brand building and the retention of fans’ interest. Tensions Flare Between KKR and PBKS Owners When it came to the process of retention, Shah Rukh Khan, as usual, got highly involved with KKR; an eyewitness said that Shah Rukh Khan was embroiled in a hot debate with Ness Wadia, Punjab Kings co-owner. It would go on to informed discussions, but Wadia later denied any personal vendetta and said all stakeholders’ interests needed to be taken into consideration. “I have known Shah Rukh for over 25 years. There is no animosity here,” said Wadia while outlining a solution fair for all franchises. SRH Supports KKR’s Stance Supporting the stance of KKR, Kavya Maran from SRH opined that smaller auctions perhaps was the way ahead considering the stress it was to have a balanced side with the existing system in place. Using Abhishek Sharma as an example, whose journey to consistency took years, she spoke of a developing story of times and investment required in young talent. Delhi Capitals Opposes To this end, on the other side of this argument, Parth Jindal of Delhi Capitals responded to this by supporting the mega auction. He said, “having a mega auction makes it fair and keeps us competitive“. He further said he did not like the view to have the Impact Player rule continued as it hampers the development of allrounders in Indian cricket. Others on the franchisee level present for the meeting were Kiran Kumar Grandhi of Delhi Capitals, Sanjiv Goenka of Lucknow Super Giants, Rupa Gurunath of Chennai Super Kings, Manoj Badale of Rajasthan Royals and Prathmesh Mishra of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Some, such as Ambanis of Mumbai Indians, used video conferencing. BCCI Responds and the Future Steps Finally, after the deliberations, the BCCI released a statement admitting to the various views expressed by the franchise owners. The Board said that the inputs regarding player regulations and commercial matters, including central merchandising and licensing, would be taken up by the IPL Governing Council and reconsidered. Still Awaiting the Final Verdict As the cricketing world has to now wait and watch for the final decision of the BCCI, the mega auction further does go on to underline the complexities of balancing competition with the business interests for the diverse stakeholders associated with the IPL. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
