A total of 292 players had registered for the IPL Auction 2021. However, the 8 franchises made a bid on only 57 players. A whopping amount of INR 145.3 crore was spent during the auction. After the event, a question is raising among fans that what is the meaning of RTM card in IPL and how franchises use it. Here we will let you know about this special power.

RTM card in IPL meaning and rules

The full form of RTM is Right To Match card. It is a special ability given to all teams to retain their player in the auction. The rule is applicable only during the Mega IPL auction when franchises can retain only 3 players ahead of the season. This year it was mini-auction so no team was allotted with an RTM card.

So how teams use it? As we know ahead of the mega auction each franchise retains its 3 best players while releases the rest of the players to go under the hammer. Each franchise gets 2 RTM cards to use in the IPL auction. However, if a franchise retains only 2 players then it gets 3 cards to use. Using this power, a team can bring back their released player to the squad during the auction.

For example, in 2018, Mumbai Indians used this power to retain Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya. The franchise had released both all-rounders as they had retained Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. Now the Mumbai-franchise was left with 2 right to match cards.

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In IPL 2018 auction, Delhi Capitals made a final bid of 5.40 crore on Pollard. However, Mumbai Indians used their card and retained the Caribbean all-rounder. Neeta Ambani-owned franchise paid 5.40 for Pollard from their purse. The same they did to bring Krunal Pandya back in the roster. MI team bought back the spin-bowling all-rounder from RCB for 8.80 crore. A mega auction comes after every 4 years and the next is in 2022.