Top IPL Stars Demand ₹40 Crore to Stay as Mega-Auction Retention Storm Builds

The Indian Premier League's biggest names are driving a hard bargain ahead of next year's mega auction, with several top players demanding ₹40 crore to agree to be retained. According to Cricbuzz, at least a couple of leading players have already told their franchises they will only stay if they are paid that amount, setting up a tense stand-off over the league's next retention cycle. The figure is a sharp jump from anything seen before. At the 2025 mega auction, the BCCI's prescribed retention slabs topped out at ₹18 crore, and the biggest deals struck after players refused retention were Rishabh Pant's ₹27 crore move to Lucknow and Shreyas Iyer's ₹26.75 crore switch to Punjab. A ₹40 crore contract would account for more than a quarter of a franchise purse expected to rise to around ₹150 crore for the 2028 mega auction, up from ₹120 crore in 2025 and ₹130 crore for the 2027 season. For teams with several marquee players, meeting such demands could prove impossible, and more stars may instead test the open market. The BCCI has not yet announced the retention rules or deduction slabs for the 2028 auction, and no formal discussions on the purse have taken place. In the nearer term, franchises must finalise their retention and release lists for IPL 2027 by the extended deadline of November 17, ahead of the mini-auction in Goa on December 16.