IPL 2025: Cap on salary of overseas players introduced; New rule to keep foreign stars in check

In a significant move to regulate player fees and maintain competitive balance, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced new rules for overseas players in the Indian Premier League ( IPL ) for the upcoming seasons. Following discussions with franchise owners in July, the IPL Governing Council convened in Bengaluru on Saturday to finalize the Player Regulations for 2025-2027.

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Key changes for Overseas Players:

1. Mandatory Registration for the Mega Auction: All overseas players must register for the Mega Auction. Failure to do so will render them ineligible for the following year's mini-auction, ensuring that only committed players are part of the league.

2. Penalties for Unavailability: Foreign Players who register for the auction but subsequently become unavailable before the season starts will face severe consequences. Such players will be banned from participating in the IPL and its player auction for two seasons, aiming to protect team strategies and investment.

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The cap on fees for overseas players will work as follows:

In addition to the registration and availability rules, the BCCI has implemented a cap on the salaries of overseas players. According to regulations, the ceiling for an overseas player's price in the mini-auction will be the lower of either the highest retention price (INR 18 crore) or the highest bid at the preceding mega auction.

• If Player A is retained for INR 18 crore and Player B is acquired for INR 16 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, the maximum salary for overseas players in the 2026 mini-auction will be capped at INR 16 crore.
• Contrarily, if Player B has signed for INR 20 crore during the mega auction, the salary cap for overseas players will be adjusted to INR 18 crore, the highest retention fee from the previous auction.

This new salary structure aims to keep the financial dynamics of the league in check while ensuring that teams can still attract top international talent without inflating prices beyond reason. In the previous edition of the IPL , Mitchell Starc fetched a whopping INR 24.75 crore from Kolkata Knight Riders , becoming the most expensive player in the league's history.