(PTI Photo)
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on the Right to Match (RTM) clause in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega-auctions. Recently, discussions have intensified regarding modifications to the retention rules for the forthcoming IPL season.
Several franchises have expressed their support for the RTM rule, which enables them to retain key players by matching their highest bid in the auction. This rule allows a team to repurchase a player who was initially released and put back into the auction pool, based on the price offered by other teams.
Ravichandran Ashwin deems the RTM rule in the IPL as “very unfair.”
In a recent YouTube video, Ravichandran Ashwin voiced his disapproval of the RTM rule. He argued that it undermines the player’s market value by not reflecting their true demand. Ashwin illustrated his point with a specific example, asserting that the rule is unjust to the player.
“There is nothing more unfair for a player than RTM. Because how has the RTM rule been so far? For example, there is a player called X. He is on a team called the Sunrisers. There is a player in the SunRisers. His current value is around five to six crores. He went to an auction. SunRisers have to buy the player back. So, the SunRisers will bid for the player at a base price of two crore,” Ashwin explained.
Ravichandran Ashwin elaborates on his point.
Ashwin went on to explain how the RTM rule can be disheartening for players. He argued that it primarily benefits the team that originally released the player into the auction, rather than offering any advantages to the player themselves.
“KKR and the Mumbai Indians are bidding for the player. The bid is up to six crores. The player was sold to the Mumbai Indians for six crores. So, the SunRisers will bid for the player at six crores.”
“The problem here is that SunRisers are happy. KKR and Mumbai Indians are unhappy. Kumudha is unhappy. The only person happy is SunRisers. Because, for the first time, they gave attendance. After that, there is no fair value at all. There is a bidder,” Ashwin elaborated.
In the video, Ashwin pointed out that teams with the RTM option often refrain from bidding beyond the base price, which fails to reflect the player’s true market value.
Ravichandran Ashwin claims that the RTM rule offers no fair value to players.
Ashwin even asserted that under this rule, the player’s value is effectively disregarded, making the rule particularly unjust for them.
“The KKR and Mumbai Indians are fighting. For a team, it has gone up to six crores. What does SRH say? You bought the player, right? Return the player. Like Soori says in Vennila Kabaddi Kuzhu, they are fooling you. We’ll start again. Very unfair. Because, at this time, SRH has to get the fair value of the player.”
“The problem with RTM is that it is not fair value for the player. So, if you give three RTMs, the players will only go empty-handed. Already, there is no fair value in the auction,” Ashwin further explained.
Recently, the BCCI and IPL owners met at the BCCI office in Mumbai to discuss various matters in preparation for the mega-auction. It is reported that the board has taken note of the owners’ suggestions and forwarded them to the IPL governing council, which will make the final decision.
