Most arguments at auction night come from rules that were never written down. Agree these with every team owner before the auction, share them in the WhatsApp group, and stick to them.
Recommended rules for a local tournament
| Rule | Typical value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Team purse | ₹1,00,000 | Same for every team. Bigger purse = bigger bids, not better teams. |
| Base price | ₹500 | Every player starts here. Keep it low so every player gets bought. |
| Bid increments | +₹500 / +₹1,000 / +₹2,000 | Up to ₹5,000 / up to ₹20,000 / above ₹20,000. |
| Squad size | 11 to 15 | Minimum so a team can field an XI, maximum so stars are spread out. |
| Bid timer | 30 seconds | Restarts after every bid. SOLD to the highest bidder when it runs out. |
| Unsold players | Second round | Brought back at the end, usually bought at base price. |
The minimum squad rule (the one people forget)
A team must always keep enough money to finish its minimum squad at the base price. Without this rule, one team spends everything on two stars and cannot field eleven players.
Example: the purse is ₹1,00,000, the base price ₹500 and the minimum squad 11. A team has bought 4 players for ₹38,000, so it has ₹62,000 left and still needs 7 players. If it wins the next one, it still needs 6 more, so it keeps 6 × ₹500 = ₹3,000 back. The highest it can bid right now is ₹59,000.
Purse calculator: how much can a team bid?
Purse left
₹62,000
Must keep back
₹3,000
6 more players × ₹500
Highest bid allowed now
₹59,000
This team still needs 7 players to reach 11, so it keeps ₹3,000 back for the others.
Bid ladder from ₹500 (default increments)
How to choose the purse
A simple formula: base price × maximum squad × 10 to 15. With a ₹500 base price and 15 players per team, a purse between ₹75,000 and ₹1,12,500 gives room for a few bidding wars without one team buying every star. The purse is play money for team balance; it does not have to match any real entry fee.
Other rules to agree in advance
- Icon or retained players: if captains keep players, fix the price taken from the purse (or ₹0) and do it before the auction starts.
- Bidding for your own team only: one owner login per team, and only that phone can bid for it.
- No take-backs: a bid placed is a bid made. If the timer ends, the player is sold.
- Unsold players: say upfront whether they come back in a second round, and at what price.
- Disputes: name one person (usually the organiser) whose decision is final.
Let the app enforce the rules
On CricMitra you set the purse, base price, increments, squad size and timer once. Every bid is then checked automatically: no team can bid out of turn, overspend, break the minimum squad rule or go past the maximum squad. Read the full step-by-step auction guide or try the demo.