By Onkar Jadhav · 10 min read
The official cricket auction rulebook.
Transparent, dispute-proof regulations covering budget allocations, minimum squad composition, bid increment slabs, and tie-breaking procedures.
A successful tournament auction requires rigid adherence to mathematical rules. Every team enters with equal buying capacity. Purse overspending is prohibited by law, and the auctioneer gavel is the supreme authority during live bidding.
Rule 1: The Team Purse & Mandatory Reserve Formula
Each team is credited with an identical purse at the start of the auction. The most critical operational rule is the Squad Reserve Requirement:
A team is legally barred from placing any bid that would leave their remaining purse lower than this Mandatory Reserve. For example, if a team needs 4 more players and the base price is ₹1,000, they must retain at least ₹3,000 in purse before bidding on the current lot.
Rule 2: Standard Bid Increment Slab Schedule
To maintain rapid auction pace and avoid petty raises, bid increments scale upward according to the current bid plateau. Below is the standard local tournament schedule:
| Current Bid Range | Mandatory Increment | Example Raise |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹10,000 | +₹500 or +₹1,000 | ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 |
| ₹10,000 to ₹30,000 | +₹2,000 | ₹18,000 to ₹20,000 |
| ₹30,000 to ₹75,000 | +₹5,000 | ₹45,000 to ₹50,000 |
| Above ₹75,000 | +₹10,000 | ₹80,000 to ₹90,000 |
Rule 3: Roster Limits & Composition Quotas
- Minimum Squad Size: Every team must sign at least 11 players (or 8 for box cricket) before the conclusion of the auction.
- Maximum Squad Ceiling: No team may hold more than 15 players (or 25 in professional leagues). Once a team reaches this ceiling, they are disqualified from bidding further.
- Category Minimums: Leagues may enforce mandatory specialty minimums: at least 1 designated wicketkeeper, 3 frontline seamers, and 1 spinner per playing squad.
Rule 4: Unsold Players & Accelerated Rounds
If no franchise submits an opening bid at the base price, the player is declared UNSOLD and quarantined.
Following the primary auction rounds, the auctioneer announces a 15-minute recess. Each team submits a shortlist of up to 5 unsold players they wish to re-bid on. In the Accelerated Round, only shortlisted players return to the podium, often with base prices reduced by 25% or 50% to encourage complete roster signups.
Rule 5: The Gavel Protocol & Dispute Settlement
Bids are registered via physical paddle raise or authorized smartphone tap. The auctioneer issues three distinct calls:
No late bids are entertained once the gavel strikes the sounding block. In the event of two simultaneous paddle raises, the auctioneer holds exclusive discretion to award the bid to the first paddle recognized.
Test these increment slabs live
Simulate real-time bid escalation and check purse balance limits.
Auction Rules FAQ
What is the standard bid increment slab in local cricket auctions?
Commonly: bids up to 10,000 increase by 500 or 1,000; bids from 10,000 to 50,000 increase by 2,000; bids from 50,000 to 100,000 increase by 5,000; bids above 100,000 increase by 10,000.
Can a team buy more than the maximum squad size?
No. Once a team reaches the maximum squad limit (e.g. 15 players), they are disqualified from bidding on further players, even if they have remaining purse.
What happens if a team runs out of purse before reaching minimum squad size?
This is a catastrophic failure. Auction rules must enforce a "Reserve Budget Rule": a team can never bid an amount that leaves them with less than (Remaining Mandatory Slots × Base Price).