A majority of the Indian Premier League franchises "batted for a retention policy, which will allow them to hold on to their core group of players," during a meeting with BCCI officials on Tuesday, according to Sanjjeev K. Samyal of the HINDUSTAN TIMES. With the auction likely in January, the franchises will have to "build their teams from scratch." IPL Chair Rajeev Shukla said, "A majority of the franchises felt that retention or 'right to match' should be given. ... We will keep that aspect in mind before taking a decision." There was also discussion on whether the two returning franchises -- Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals -- will be "allowed to retain their original players." CSK is "trying hard" to get former captain M.S. Dhoni -- around whom the club's "brand was built" -- back. Shukla: "I cannot say anything now. Once we take a decision on retention and 'right to match,' only then can I say something." On the subject of increasing the salary cap for teams -- their share from the central revenue pool "will increase by almost" 300% -- most franchise owners were "not very enthusiastic." The last salary cap was fixed at R66 crore. According to estimates, the CRP "could be in excess" of R260 crore ($39M) from next season, "owing to a whopping" R16,000 crore ($2.4B) the BCCI made from the IPL media rights sale (HINDUSTAN TIMES, 11/21).
