India, Nov. 6 -- The Indian Premier League could be heading towards a new salary battle, with some of India's biggest cricket stars reportedly seeking Rs.40 crore to stay with their respective franchises ahead of the next mega auction in 2028. According to a report by Cricbuzz, at least two top tier players have communicated this demand to their teams, making player retention an increasingly complicated exercise for IPL franchises.

The demand is not just about money. In at least one case, a player's financial expectations are understood to be linked to the captaincy role. With the 2027 mini auction approaching and franchises already planning for the next major squad reset, the reported demands could have significant implications for the ...