Every few years, the Indian Premier League, widely regarded as the biggest cricket league in the world, reaches a major reset point known as the mega auction. It is the moment when everything changes. Teams rebuild their cores, strategies take new directions, and the balance of power in the league shifts completely. The mega auction often feels like the start of a new era, setting the stage for how the next few seasons will unfold.
The mega auction, held every three to four years, is designed to completely refresh team combinations. Since franchises are allowed to retain only a small group of players, most cricketers return to the auction pool, creating a level playing field for everyone. Each team begins with a fresh purse, giving them the freedom to rebuild their squad from scratch and shape new strategies with a long-term vision in mind.
What is the mega auction in the IPL?
A mega auction in the IPL is a large-scale player reshuffle held every three to four years, designed to give all franchises a fresh start. The most important rule is the limited retention policy, where a franchise can retain only a small number of players. This forces the majority of cricketers back into the open market, helping teams rebuild themselves and preventing any single franchise from gaining long-term dominance. It essentially resets the league every few years.
The major difference between the mega auction and the mini auction lies in player retention and the size of the auction pool. In a mini auction, teams retain most of their squad and buy only a few players to fill gaps. In contrast, a mega auction allows minimal retention, sending most players back into the pool and giving franchises the opportunity to rebuild their teams almost from scratch.
How Often Does the IPL Mega Auction Take Place?
Mega auctions in the IPL are held every three to four years because they are designed to be major reset points, not routine events. Conducting them annually would disrupt team stability and make it difficult for franchises to develop young players or execute long-term plans. The multi-year gap allows teams to invest in coaching, nurture emerging talent, and build a strong core before the next big reshuffle.
The first mega auction took place before the inaugural season in 2008. The next ones followed in 2011 and 2014, with another major reset arriving in 2018, which began a new cycle. In 2022, the league held another mega auction and also introduced two new teams to the competition. The most recent mega auction happened in 2024, once again refreshing squads and shaping a new phase of the IPL.
How Does the IPL Mega Auction Work? Step-by-Step
1. Retention Rules Before Mega Auction
Mega auctions operate with a minimum-retention approach, where each franchise is allowed to retain a maximum of six players. Within this limit, a team can retain up to five capped players and up to two uncapped players, and the salaries of these retained players are deducted from the team’s purse. If a franchise chooses to retain fewer than six players, it receives a corresponding number of Right-to-Match (RTM) cards, which can be used to buy back former players during the bidding process by matching the highest bid. It is important to note that RTM cards are not allowed in mini auctions.
2. Full Player Pool Reset
Mega auctions allow the maximum number of players to return to the auction pool, creating an almost complete reset so every franchise begins on equal footing. Because teams are permitted to retain only a small number of players, most of the squad automatically become eligible for the auction once they register again. This process sends hundreds of cricketers back into the open market, including star performers, capped internationals, uncapped domestic talents, and overseas players.
3. Team Budget (Purse) Allocation
Each IPL franchise receives a purse of ₹125 crore to build a squad of 18 to 25 players. Before the auction starts, the salaries of retained players are deducted, and teams must work with the remaining amount. Constructing a squad within this budget requires careful planning, as franchises must balance spending on marquee players while ensuring all key roles are filled. Overspending too early can create gaps, while being overly cautious may cost them top talent.
4. Bidding Process (Base Price + Increments)
Bidding for each player begins at their set base price, which ranges from ₹30 lakh to ₹2 crore. Franchises raise their paddles as bids increase in fixed increments: ₹5 lakh up to ₹1 crore, ₹10 lakh from ₹1 to ₹2 crore, ₹20 lakh from ₹2 to ₹5 crore, and ₹25 lakh beyond ₹5 crore. These structured steps keep the auction organised and competitive.
5. Accelerated Auction Round
After the main round of the auction, an accelerated phase begins, where the unsold players return in a rapid-fire session. This quicker format allows teams to make swift decisions and fill the remaining slots in their squad, ensuring they complete their roster before the auction closes.
What Makes the Mega Auction Different From the Mini Auction?
· Mega auctions follow a minimum retention rule, allowing teams to keep only a few players. Mini auctions follow a maximum retention approach, where most of the squad is kept intact.
· Mega auctions allow franchises to completely redesign their squad, with the majority of players returning to the auction pool. Mini auctions depend heavily on previous investments, with teams making only small adjustments.
· Mega auctions lead to a full squad reset, bigger changes, and higher spending. Mini auctions focus on filling small gaps, strengthening specific roles, and adding backup players.
Top 10 Biggest Buys in Past IPL Mega Auctions
1. Rishabh Pant – 27 Cr (2024): Lucknow Super Giants bought Rishabh Pant in the 2024 mega auction largely because they were searching for a new captain
2. Shreyas Iyer – 26.75 Cr (2024): Punjab Kings bought Shreyas Iyer in the 2024 mega auction because they knew a player of his caliber rarely comes under the hammer.
3. Venkatesh Iyer – 23.75 Cr (2024): Iyer had been a trusted investment for KKR from the beginning, and their aggressive bidding in the 2024 mega auction clearly showed they had no intention of letting him go.
4. Ishan Kishan – 15.25 Cr (2022): Ishan Kishan was the emerging wicketkeeper–batter Mumbai Indians were looking for, and his strong performances for India just before the auction further increased his value.
5. Gautam Gambhir – 14.9 Cr (2011): Gautam Gambhir’s match-winning performance in the 2011 World Cup final played a major role in boosting his value, and KKR’s decision to invest in him proved to be one of their smartest moves. Under his leadership, the franchise won two IPL titles, in 2012 and 2014, cementing his legacy at the club.
6. Yuvraj Singh – 14Cr (2014): Yuvraj Singh, India’s World Cup MVP, was making an emotional comeback after his battle with cancer, and the immense hype around his return played a big role in RCB buying him for such a high value.
7. Deepak Chahar – 14 Cr (2022): Deepak Chahar was a player nurtured by CSK from the early stages of his career, and the franchise simply did not want to let him go.
8. Ben Stokes – 12.5 Cr (2018): Ben Stokes was an emerging global superstar, contributing heavily with both bat and ball, and his all-round impact made Rajasthan Royals willing to invest in him at such a high price.
9. Manish Pandey – 11 Cr (2018): Pandey’s powerful hitting and his ability to finish games made SRH invest heavily in him.
10. Liam Livingston – 11 Cr (2022): Liam Livingstone was one of the top-performing T20 batters in the world at the time, which is why Punjab went after him at such a high price.