The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction is set to take place on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, bringing together franchises, players, analysts and fans for one of cricket’s biggest off-field spectacles. With squads to fine-tune and limited budgets to juggle, the auction once again promises a blend of strategy, restraint and high-stakes bidding.
What is the IPL auction?
The IPL auction is the annual process through which franchises assemble their squads for the upcoming season. Teams bid on players from a centrally curated pool, using a fixed purse allotted by the league. The objective is to build a balanced squad while staying within financial and squad-size limits.
Over the years, the auction has evolved into a data-driven exercise, combining scouting reports, analytics, and real-time decision-making.
Who conducts the auction?
The auction is organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and conducted by an independent auctioneer. The BCCI frames the rules, oversees compliance, and manages the broader auction process.
Why does the IPL use an auction system?
Unlike traditional transfer systems, the IPL follows an auction model to maintain competitive balance. The mechanism prevents wealthier franchises from stockpiling top players and forces teams to prioritise roles, manage budgets carefully and think long term.
How do players enter the auction?
Players register through their respective cricket boards and submit a base price. Franchises then submit interest lists, following which a final auction pool is prepared. Not all registered players make the final cut.
For IPL 2026, the auction list was updated less than 24 hours before the event, with 19 additional names added at the request of franchises, taking the total pool to 369 players.
What is a base price?
The base price is the minimum amount at which bidding for a player begins. Players can choose from predefined slabs, but a higher base price does not guarantee selection. Teams often find value picks in lower price brackets based on role-specific needs, age profile and recent form.
How does bidding work?
When a player’s name is announced, franchises raise paddles to place bids. The auctioneer increases the bid in fixed increments until only one team remains. That team secures the player at the final bid amount.
Purse limits, squad size and salary caps
Each franchise enters the auction with a fixed purse. Teams must:
-Build squads within the overall purse
-Adhere to limits on total squad size
-Follow caps on overseas players
-Additionally, IPL regulations restrict the maximum salary a player can earn in a season, regardless of the final bid amount.
Retentions and releases
Before the auction, teams decide which players to retain and which to release back into the pool. Retained players’ salaries are deducted from the purse. While releasing players frees up funds, it also carries the risk of not being able to re-sign a suitable replacement.
What is a mini auction?
Mini auctions are held in seasons where only partial squad restructuring is allowed. While smaller in scale than mega auctions, they often see intense bidding for specialised roles such as death bowlers, power hitters or wrist spinners.
Why do uncapped players attract big bids?
Uncapped players who offer niche skills like express pace, power-hitting, mystery spin or favourable matchup data often command premium prices. Franchises also view younger uncapped players as long-term investments.
Why do star players sometimes go unsold?
High base prices, role saturation, inconsistent form, age, workload management and team composition all influence bidding decisions. Even well-known names can go unsold if they do not fit a franchise’s immediate strategy.
What happens if a player goes unsold?
Unsold players may re-enter the accelerated rounds. If they remain unsold, they stay as free agents and can be signed later as injury replacements during the season.
IPL 2026 auction: Key details
Date: December 16, 2025
Time: 2:30 PM IST
Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
Total players in pool: 369
Total slots to be filled: 77
Combined purse available: Rs 237.55 crore
Kolkata Knight Riders enter the auction with the biggest purse at Rs 64.30 crore, followed by Chennai Super Kings (Rs 43.40 crore) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (Rs 25.50 crore).
Where can fans watch the auction?
The IPL 2026 auction will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar. Live updates will also be available on the IPL’s website and social media handles.
