{"id":"f-a270977e8f-e7b1ba2b-0fde-5535-a9c8-38783868e550","title":"5 lesser-known facts about the IPL auction","description":"The IPL 2026 mini auction will be held on December 16 at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.","timestamp":1765858500,"category":"sports","headline":"5 lesser-known facts about the IPL auction","modifiedHeadline":"IPL auction secrets: Facts fans never knew before!","subCategories":["scid_185ed133"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"6ff0e53c-03a9-4fac-a199-00040694f01a","bundleTitle":"Indian Cricket","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"491","fcSummary":"The IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi will involve 359 shortlisted players vying for 77 slots. It includes a silent tie-breaker bid, an accelerated process to quickly clear remaining players, and massive money being spent. Rishabh Pant is the most expensive Indian player.","summary":"Discover lesser-known IPL auction facts, from shocking trades to hidden strategies, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at how teams plan bids.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/sports/IN/en/crictracker/f-a270977e8f-e7b1ba2b-0fde-5535-a9c8-38783868e550","sourceUrl":"https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-news/5-lesser-known-facts-about-the-ipl-auction-4976/","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/6u598iiZvan0.webp","content":"

Ahead of every IPL season, teams enter the auction after completing retentions, scouting domestic talent, and assessing overseas options. Unlike a mega

\n\n

auction, a mini auction, like the upcoming IPL 2026, is mainly about fine-tuning squads and filling voids rather than rebuilding from the start.

The IPL 2026 mini auction will be held on December 16 at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, making it the third consecutive year the auction is hosted outside India. A total of 359 players have been shortlisted from an original list of 1,355, with 77 slots available across teams. Franchises can have a maximum squad size of 25 players, including up to eight overseas players. However, ahead of the auction, there are set of lesser-known aspects that many often overlook.

\n\n\n

What is a silent tie-breaker bid in IPL auction?

A silent tie-breaker bid is used when two or more franchises place the same highest bid for a player. Instead of continuing an open verbal bidding war, the BCCI conducts a written tie-break process behind closed doors.

In this system, the tied franchises submit sealed bids without knowing how much the others are providing. The player is awarded to the team that submits the highest written bid. Importantly, the tie-break bid amount is never disclosed publicly. If two or more teams submit the same highest written bid again, only those teams are asked to repeat the process until a clear winner comes out.

\n\n

Which cities have hosted IPL auctions?

Since 2008, IPL auctions have been hosted across multiple Indian cities and, more recently, overseas venues. Bengaluru has been the most frequent host, while in the last two seasons it has been taken overseas. For IPL 2026, BCCI has once again gone outside the country.

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n

Year	Host City	Country
2008	Mumbai	India
2009	Goa	India
2010	Mumbai	India
2011	Bengaluru	India
2012	Bengaluru	India
2013	Chennai	India
2014	Bengaluru	India
2015	Bengaluru	India
2016	Mumbai	India
2017	Bengaluru	India
2018	Bengaluru	India
2019	Jaipur	India
2020	Kolkata	India
2021	Chennai	India
2022	Bengaluru	India
2023	Kochi	India
2024	Dubai	UAE
2025	Jeddah	Saudi Arabia
2026	Abu Dhabi	UAE

\n
\n

What is the accelerated process in IPL 2026 auction?

The accelerated process is the final, quick phase of the auction designed to clear remaining players quickly. In IPL 2026, this round will begin after the first 70 players have been presented. Before the accelerated round starts, franchises submit a shortlist of unsold players they are still interested in.

Only those shortlisted names are called out. Bidding moves rapidly, with minimal pauses, and if no team raises a paddle immediately, the player is declared unsold. The accelerated process does not alter any rules regarding base price, squad size, or overseas limits; it just speeds up proceedings once teams have largely filled their squads.

How much amount has been spent in each IPL auction?

Over the years, IPL auctions have seen massive financial growth, with each year seeing record bids and contracts being filed.

Year	\n Money spent
2008	USD 36.43M
2009	USD 7.65M
2010	USD 3.65M
2011	USD 62.775M
2012	USD 10.995M
2013	USD 11.885M
2014	INR 262.6 crore
2015	INR 87.60 crore
2016	INR 136 crore
2017	INR 91 crore
2018	INR 431 crore
2019	INR 106.80 crore
2020	INR 140.30 crore
2021	INR 145.30 crore
2022	INR 551.70 crore
2023	INR 167 crore
2024	INR 230.45 crore
2025	INR 639.15 crore

\n \n

Who are the country-wise most expensive players in IPL auction history?

The main reason IPL is called a cash-rich league is due to the money spent on players. And each season, one or two players make headlines with their record signings. Currently, India's Rishabh Pant tops the list of most-expensive player in the history of the league.

\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n

Country	Player	Price (in crore)
India	Rishab Pant	27
Australia	Mitchell Starc	24.75
South Africa	Heinrich Klaasen	23
New Zealand	Kane Williamson	14
England	Sam Curran	18.50
West Indies	Nicholas Pooran	21
Afghanistan	Rashid Khan	18
Bangladesh	Mustafizur Rahman	3.20
Pakistan	Shahid Afridi	2.71
Sri Lanka	Matheesha Pathirana	13

\n \n

\n","readDurationInMinutes":"11","author":{"name":"Crictracker","logo":"https://glance-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/bubble/jpeg/f94b2f59-f4c7-49c2-8d0b-c1819da5f584.jpeg"},"ism":false,"analyticsResponses":[{"measurementId":"G-DQT8BB3532","type":"GA"}],"pointerSummary":["IPL 2026 mini-auction: Dec 16, Abu Dhabi. 359 players shortlisted for 77 slots.","Silent tie-breaker: Sealed bids used when teams bid same; highest wins, amount secret.","Accelerated process speeds up unsold player selection after initial 70; teams shortlist."],"tags":["IPL2026","IPLAuction","EtihadArena","AbuDhabi","MiniAuction","PlayerAuction","BCCI","SilentTieBreaker","AcceleratedProcess","RishabhPant","MitchellStarc","HeinrichKlaasen","KaneWilliamson","SamCurran","NicholasPooran","RashidKhan","MostExpensivePlayers","IPLHistory","Cricket","SportsAuction"],"consent":true,"redirectionEnabled":false}

5 lesser-known facts about the IPL auction

SUMMARY