IPL Auctions 2025: Ponting welcomes new rule on overseas players participation

Jofra Archer added to IPL auction last minute due to new rule on overseas player withdrawals.

Jofra Archer was added at the last minute ahead of the Indian Premier League’s 2025 player auction. And on Sunday, of the three players that remained unsold in the first six sets, two — David Warner and Jonny Bairstow — were overseas cricketers.

These two events are interlinked, possibly due to the amended rule vis-a-vis overseas cricketers’ participation in IPL. In a bid to curb overseas cricketers registering for the auction and then withdrawing before the season citing personal reasons, the IPL authorities have introduced a new rule.

According to the rule, except for a justifiable medical reason, an overseas player will be disallowed to enter the IPL auction for the next two years if he withdraws between the auction and the beginning of an IPL season.

While Shashwat Goenka, the Lucknow Super Giants owner, has welcomed the rule, Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting was “very comfortable” with the introduction of the rule.

“I have been there first-hand last year, when our first pick, for personal reasons, wasn’t able to join the IPL, and your whole auction strategy for the rest of the season goes completely out of the window,” Ponting said.

“The personal reasons, the injury stuff, that is all still there, obviously, and it needs to be, because the players need some protection as well. But it’s just so important that the players understand what investment the teams are making in them.”

Ponting was referring to Harry Brook withdrawing after being Delhi Capitals’ big signing last year. Similarly, Mark Wood (Lucknow Super Giants) and Wanindu Hasaranga (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) pulled out without justifiable reasons in the recent past.