There may be an additional delay in the release of the IPL retention rules. According to sources circulating among Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners and officials, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could defer the announcement until the end of the month. This delay might coincide with the BCCI's Annual General Meeting (AGM), scheduled for September 29 in Bengaluru, which has raised speculation that the retention rules could be announced around that time.

While there is no formal connection between the AGM and IPL policies, the timing may align, adding to the uncertainty. However, it wouldn't be surprising if the BCCI suddenly releases the policy in the next few days. But the overriding sentiment among IPL franchise officials is that the announcement may take another 10 days to two weeks. Although there has been no official communication on this delay, sources suggest that the BCCI has subtly indicated to the franchises that the policy release is unlikely to happen soon.

A Missed Deadline

Initially, the BCCI was expected to announce the retention rules by the end of August, following statements made by Board officials after last month’s owners’ meeting in Mumbai. As August came to a close, franchise officials reached out to the BCCI for clarification and were reportedly informed of the further delay, with a more realistic timeline now set for the end of September.

Retention Deadlines and Auction Updates

Despite the delay, IPL franchises are expected to have until November 15 to finalize their retention decisions. The player auction, likely scheduled for December, is also expected to feature the Right to Match (RTM) option, allowing teams to retain certain players after the bidding process.

One of the more debated moves that the BCCI is considering is classifying retired international players as "uncapped." While this has sparked some controversy, it is unclear whether it will significantly impact team strategies or the auction purse. Notably, this move is unlikely to benefit any one franchise in particular—such as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with MS Dhoni—since it appears to be designed for the benefit of the league as a whole. However, if Dhoni does decide to play one more season, CSK officials have indicated that he would be one of their retentions, regardless of the number allowed by the BCCI.

Impact on Franchises and Players

Should the BCCI move forward with uncapping retired players, it could affect several notable figures, such as Sunil Narine, who last played an international T20 match in 2019. However, many believe this change won’t drastically alter auction dynamics. The deduction from each franchise’s auction purse based on the number of retained players will remain in place, allowing teams to strategize around the value of players they wish to retain.

Final Thoughts

Although the retention rules remain a topic of discussion, what seems certain is that the IPL franchises will have clarity in the coming weeks. The delay in announcing the retention policy may affect planning, but it is unlikely to drastically impact the overall functioning of the IPL ecosystem. With the auction approaching, all eyes will be on the BCCI to see how they navigate this crucial decision, which could shape the future of teams and the league for years to come.