RTM, a point of difference in bidding battles

The IPL auction is a one-of-a-kind mass entertainer, running successfully for 17 years.

Not everyone though agrees if it has the best system for squad building. Addressing concerns from some franchises who wanted team continuity, IPL bosses made several tweaks in the retention rules they allowed more retentions but made them costlier, allowed unlimited Right To Match (RTM) cards with modifications.

While retentions impacted a team's auction purse, they had time to pick the formula to suit their squad strength. The tweaked RTM rule left franchises thinking on their feet. Some teams liked it, a few didn't, but it sure added drama to the auction.

The bidding for Rishabh Pant would have played out differently if LSG didn't have the freedom to put out an incremental bid (going from ₹20.75 to 27 crore), which DC couldn't match. As per the old rule, DC would have simply won Pant back by matching the price when the bidding stopped. So what if the player had walked out of retention talks pre-auction.

Now, the player has found his right match and his new franchise was only too happy to have him.

"I think it's (RTM) great. It puts you to some tough questions," said Daniel Vettori, head coach of SRH.