Here's an overview of how players are selected during the IPL auction process and what to expect for 2025:

PLAYER REGISTRATION AND SHORTLISTING

Player Registration: Players (both domestic and international) interested in participating in the IPL register through their respective boards and agents.

Emerging talents from India register through the BCCI, while international players apply via their respective cricket boards.

Shortlisting: Franchises review the complete list of registered players and submit a shortlist of players they are interested in. This results in the final auction pool.

AUCTION DYNAMICS: KEY PHASES

Auction Pool and Categories: Players are divided into categories based on their roles (batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders, wicketkeepers) and set with a base price, ranging from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 2 crore. The base price helps franchises gauge starting bids.

Auction Order

Marquee Players: The auction typically begins with marquee players who are high-profile and expected to fetch top bids.

These include star Indian players, popular international players, and performers from the previous IPL or ICC tournaments.

Role-Based Groups: The rest of the auction is conducted in blocks, organized by roles like:

Batters

Bowlers (fast and spin)

All-rounders

Wicketkeepers

Uncapped Players: A separate round is held for uncapped players (players who haven't represented their national team). These include emerging domestic talents and breakout performers from domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Accelerated Rounds: Toward the end of the auction, unsold players are reintroduced in quick succession. Teams often pick value players in these rounds.

BIDDING PROCESS

Starting the Bid: Each player enters the auction with a base price, and franchises bid in increments to secure the player.

Competitive Bidding: Intense bidding wars often happen for marquee players or those fitting a team's specific needs.

Unsold Players: Players who receive no bids in the initial round can be brought back into the accelerated rounds if teams show interest later.

TEAM COMPOSITION RULES

To ensure a balanced squad, teams must adhere to specific rules:

Squad Size:

Minimum: 18 players

Maximum: 25 players

Overseas Players: A maximum of 8 overseas players per squad.

Salary Cap: Teams must operate within a fixed budget.

Role Balance: Teams aim for a mix of specialists and all-rounders to adapt to the Impact Player Rule.

PRE-AUCTION RETENTIONS AND TRADES

Player Retentions: Before the auction, franchises are allowed to retain key players. This limits the number of available marquee players in the pool.

Player Trades: Teams can trade players with other franchises in the trading window before the auction.

Impact Player Rule Influence: Teams will focus on players offering flexibility (all-rounders, utility players).

Bowler-Heavy Strategies: Teams might prioritize death bowlers or spinners, given their impact in crucial stages.

Youth and Future Talent: Uncapped Indian players and emerging stars could attract significant attention.

High Demand for Multi-Faceted Players: All-rounders who can bowl economical overs and finish games will see intense bidding wars.

The IPL 2025 Auction will follow a structured yet dynamic format, with teams leveraging the latest trends and rules to build versatile squads.

Expect franchises to go all-out for flexible, impactful players who can adapt to mid-game changes-a key factor in the modern IPL.