The Indian Premier League (IPL) has introduced a new rule that will see players who pull out at short notice banned from participating in the following two seasons. This regulation targets players who sign up for the auction and are picked but withdraw before the season begins. Exemptions will be made for players pulling out due to injury or medical reasons.
This rule comes after several high-profile players, including England’s Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, David Willey, and Harry Brook, pulled out of this year’s IPL. Brook withdrew following the death of his grandmother.
In addition to this new regulation, IPL teams will be allowed to retain up to six players for the 2025 season. A “mega auction” is set to take place before next year’s tournament, where significant changes to team rosters are anticipated.
For the first time, the IPL will also introduce a match fee of 7.5 lakh rupees (£6,700), which will be paid in addition to players’ salaries. Last year, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc became the most expensive signing in IPL history when Kolkata Knight Riders purchased him for 24.75 crore rupees (£2.3 million).
