The high-stakes world of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set for its annual shake-up with the IPL 2026 Mini-Auction. With 77 slots to fill and contrasting purses across the ten franchises, the one-day event is expected to feature intense bidding wars and crucial strategic moves as teams finalize their rosters for the upcoming season.
Here is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the IPL 2026 Auction:
Auction Details: Date, Time, and Venue
The IPL 2026 auction will be held outside India for the third consecutive time, following events in Dubai (2024) and Jeddah (2025).
| Detail | Information |
| Date | Tuesday, December 16, 2025 |
| Venue | Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Start Time (IST) | 2:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST) |
| Start Time (Local) | 1:00 PM Gulf Standard Time (GST) |
| Duration | The event is scheduled to run for a single day. |
Live Coverage: Channels and Streaming
Cricket fans across the globe can tune in to watch the bidding wars live on both television and digital platforms:
- Television Broadcast (India): Live coverage will be available on the Star Sports Network across its various channels.
- Live Streaming (India): The auction will be streamed digitally on the JioCinema platform.
Key Numbers and Auction Rules
This year’s mini-auction features some significant rule changes, most notably impacting overseas players' earnings.
1. Available Slots and Total Purse
| Metric | Detail |
| Total Players Shortlisted | 350 |
| Available Slots | 77 |
| Overseas Slots Available | 31 |
| Total Purse Remaining (All Teams) | ₹237.55 Crore |
| Highest Purse | Kolkata Knight Riders ₹64.30 Crore |
| Lowest Purse | Mumbai Indians ₹2.75 Crore |
2. Overseas Salary Cap (New Rule)
A major change introduced for the mini-auction is a salary cap for international players.
- The Cap: The maximum salary an overseas player can earn is capped at ₹18 Crore.
- The Rule: Any amount bid above this ₹18 Crore threshold will be collected by the BCCI and directed toward its player development program. This aims to regulate inflated deals for foreign stars.
3. Right to Match (RTM) Card
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Status: The Right to Match (RTM) card will NOT be available to the franchises in this mini-auction. Teams will need to outbid rivals directly to re-acquire any released player.
Players in Focus
A final shortlist of 350 players will go under the hammer. Forty-five players, including two Indians—Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi—have registered at the maximum base price of ₹2 Crore.
| Category | Key Players Expected to Command Big Bids |
| Overseas All-Rounder | Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone |
| Overseas Batter/Keeper | Devon Conway, Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, Josh Inglis |
| Indian Talent | Venkatesh Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan |
The IPL 2026 auction promises high drama as teams like KKR (with the biggest purse) and MI (with the smallest) execute contrasting strategies to build their winning combinations.
