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What is RTM in IPL? A Detailed Look At Its Evolution and Return in 2025

A Look at RTM's Past, Present, and Future [Source: @OneCricketApp/x.com]A Look at RTM's Past, Present, and Future [Source: @OneCricketApp/x.com]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions have long been a stage for strategic brilliance, aggressive bidding wars, and a grand spectacle of team building. Among the several tactical tools that the IPL introduced, the Right to Match (RTM) card stood out as a fascinating mechanism, as it allowed teams to reclaim key players who had gone into the auction pool.

However, as IPL continues to evolve, so does the way franchises approach retention strategies. With significant changes proposed for the 2025-27 IPL cycle, RTM has been reintroduced in a new avatar.

In this article, we will dive deep into the RTM rule, how it has evolved over the years, and its strategic importance in the IPL.

What is RTM in IPL Auctions?

Introduced during the IPL 2018 Mega Auction, the Right to Match (RTM) card gave IPL teams the ability to reclaim a player that they had previously let go into the auction pool. Essentially, the RTM card allowed teams to match the highest bid placed by another franchise and retain the player.

Here’s how it worked in its original form:

  1. Bidding Process: When a player previously associated with a team came up for bidding, all teams could place their bids.
  2. Final Bid: Once the highest bid was locked in, the player’s former franchise had the right to match that final bid and reclaim the player, without engaging in the bidding process themselves.
  3. RTM Rules: Teams could retain a maximum of five players in total, with a combination of direct retentions and RTM cards.

For example, if a player like Rashid Khan was put up for auction, and a team like Sunrisers Hyderabad (his former franchise) used the RTM card, they could match the highest bid made by another team and retain him.

How RTM Shaped IPL 2018 Mega Auction

The IPL 2018 Mega Auction was the first instance where teams leveraged the RTM card to build strong squads, while also trying to maintain a balance in their budgets.

This was an era when the player pool was brimming with talent, and the auction allowed for a total reshuffle, making RTM cards crucial.

The Evolution of RTM: How It Was Phased Out

While the RTM card added a new dimension to team strategies, it was not without its challenges. As teams heavily relied on the RTM option to build a core squad, critics felt that it diluted the competitiveness of the auction by allowing powerful franchises to hold on to key players without spending too much.

This led to the decision of the IPL Governing Council to do away with RTM for the IPL 2022 Mega Auction. Instead, teams were allowed to retain up to four players ahead of the auction, leaving the rest to be fought over by all franchises in an open auction.

The decision marked the end of the RTM era, as teams had to focus more on direct retentions and auction bidding strategies, thereby making the auction process more cutthroat.



What’s New for IPL 2025: The Return of RTM with a Twist

The upcoming IPL 2025 Mega Auction is set to bring back RTM, but this time with significant changes that add more layers to the strategy. The IPL Governing Council has proposed allowing franchises to re-sign up to six players in any combination of direct retentions and RTM cards. 

However, the way RTM works has changed dramatically:

  • Retention Flexibility: Franchises can retain a maximum of five capped players (Indian or Overseas) and up to two uncapped players. This gives teams the flexibility to mix and match retentions and RTM cards depending on their squad's composition.
  • New RTM Bidding Process: Unlike the previous rule where a team could simply match the highest bid, the new RTM rule allows the highest bidder one more opportunity to increase their bid after the RTM is exercised. This essentially gives both the original team and the highest bidder a final chance to outbid each other.

For example, if Yuzvendra Chahal is auctioned and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) places a bid of ₹8 crores, Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chahal’s original team, can use their RTM card. However, CSK will now get one last chance to raise their bid, say to ₹10 crores. RR can then decide to use the RTM at the final price of ₹10 crores.

This rule not only makes the auction process more competitive but also ensures that teams use their RTM cards wisely, given that every extra crore can affect their remaining budget.

The Future of RTM: A Game-Changer in IPL Auctions?

Teams will have to play their cards smartly, as every RTM decision can make or break their campaign. With the new bidding process in place, teams will no longer be able to match bids without considering the financial ramifications, and bidding wars are likely to get even fiercer.

As we look ahead to the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, one thing is for sure—the RTM card will be back in the limelight, with teams hoping to pull aces from their sleeves and secure the players they value most.

Conclusion: The Right to Match, The Right to Win

The Right to Match (RTM) card strategy can determine the course of a franchise’s season. While the rule has undergone changes, its essence remains the same—to give teams a chance to keep their game-changers.

With its return in IPL 2025, RTM is all set to become a tactical weapon once again, ensuring that the auction remains a battleground where only the smartest teams survive.