IPL new 18 crore rule: Why can not foreign players earn more than 18 crore rupees? Find out the whole truth

IPL's New 18 Crore Rule: A special rule has sparked a debate in the cricket world ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction. This rule is related to the salaries of foreign players. Simply put, no matter how high the bid for a foreign player, their actual salary cannot exceed 18 crore rupees.

What is the controversial IPL 'Salary Cap' rule?

This rule was first introduced in the IPL 2025 mega auction and has now been made mandatory for the mini-auction as well.

How does the rule work? (Explained with an example)

Let's say Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bids 30 crore rupees for Cameron Green. The calculation would be as follows:

• Franchise's Purse: The entire 30 crore rupees will be deducted from KKR's budget.
• Player's Salary: Cameron Green will only receive 18 crore rupees in his bank account.
• Where will the remaining money go?: The remaining 12 crore rupees will be deposited into the BCCI's Player Welfare Fund.

Indian vs. Foreign: Bias or Protection?

The biggest question here is whether this rule is discriminatory against Indian players? The answer is—no.

Indian players (like Rishabh Pant - 27 crore) are entitled to receive their full bid amount. The BCCI's thinking is clear: the most expensive players in the league should always be Indian icons. This rule encourages franchises to prioritize Indian talent.

Why did the BCCI take this strict step?

Franchises had long complained that some foreign players were being clever. They would withdraw their names from the mega auction (where the budget is lower) and then enter the mini-auction.

Due to the scarcity of players and high demand in the mini-auction, they were receiving much more money than expected (20-25 crore rupees).
To prevent this, two major changes were made:

1. Salary Cap: The earnings of foreign players were limited to the retention slab of Indian players (₹18 crore).
2. 2-Year Ban: If a player withdraws from the auction after registration without a valid reason, they will be banned for two years.

Opposition and Support: What is the opinion of the experts?

Argument against: Foreign cricket fans believe that if the market value is higher, the player should receive the full amount. This is being described as against the principles of a 'free market'.

Argument in favor: Cricket experts believe that this rule balances the IPL ecosystem and ensures that foreign players do not exploit the league solely for financial gain.