The spotlight will firmly be on Abu Dhabi on December 16 as the IPL 2026 mini auction gets underway, with all ten franchises set to compete for a limited number of slots ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League.
The IPL has officially announced a shortlist of 359 players who will go under the hammer at the auction. However, the list has effectively risen to 360 players following the late inclusion of India uncapped batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, who will enter the auction with a base price of ₹30 lakh.
IPL 2026 Auction Venue
The IPL 2026 auction will be held in Abu Dhabi, continuing the league's recent trend of staging its auctions outside India. After Dubai hosted the 2024 auction and Saudi Arabia's Jeddah staged the 2025 mega auction, Abu Dhabi becomes the latest
international venue to host the high profile event. This year, the mini auction will take place at the Etihad Centre in Abu Dhabi on December 16, underlining the Middle East's growing role as a hub for major cricketing and sporting events.
Size and composition of the auction pool
Out of the 360 players in the auction pool, 246 are Indians and 113 are overseas cricketers. A total of 114 players are capped, while the remaining pool includes 230 uncapped Indian players and 15 uncapped overseas players. The shortlist was finalised from a massive 1,390 players who had initially registered for the auction.
The overseas contingent represents 10 countries, led by England with 22 players and Australia with 21. South Africa and New Zealand have 16 players each, Sri Lanka has 12, Afghanistan 10, West Indies nine, Bangladesh seven, while Ireland and Malaysia have one player each.
At 39 years, Jalaj Saxena will be the oldest player in the auction, while Afghanistan's Wahidullah Zadran, just over 18 years of age, will be the youngest.
Top base price players and notable absentees
A total of 40 players have been slotted into the highest base price bracket, including Australia's Cameron Green and Steve Smith, South Africa's David Miller and Quinton de Kock, and Indian internationals Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
Some prominent names will be missing from the auction, with Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis opting to skip IPL 2026. Andre Russell has also announced his retirement from IPL after KKR released him head of the auction.
Associate and special entries
Virandeep Singh of Malaysia is the only associate nation cricketer in the auction pool. The 26 year old is a genuine all rounder who can bat, bowl and also keep wicket.
Another interesting inclusion is Nikhil Chaudhary, an Indian origin all rounder based in Australia. Although he has played in the Big Bash League for the Hobart Hurricanes, Chaudhary is registered as an uncapped Indian under the Punjab Cricket Association, having made his domestic debut for Punjab in 2017 before moving abroad.
How many slots are available?
With each franchise allowed a maximum squad size of 25 players, teams will compete to fill up to 77 available slots at the auction.
This will be the third consecutive year that the IPL auction is being held outside India, following Dubai in 2024 and Saudi Arabia's Jeddah hosting the 2025 mega auction.
Retentions, purse and team strategies
The auction date and venue were confirmed after the player retention window closed. In total, 173 players, including 49 overseas cricketers, were retained by the 10 franchises. Collectively, teams will have a combined purse of ₹237.55 crore to spend at the IPL 2026 auction.
Among the franchises, Punjab Kings have opted for maximum stability by retaining 21 players, while Gujarat Titans have retained 20. Five time champions Mumbai Indians have also filled 20 spots following trade ins of Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford, but will enter the auction with just ₹2.75 crore, the lowest purse among all teams.
In contrast, Kolkata Knight Riders head into the auction with the largest remaining purse of ₹64.3 crore and room for 13 new signings, including six overseas players. Chennai Super Kings are next with ₹43.4 crore available to fill nine vacancies.
Teams Purse Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
| Team | Purse Remaining (₹ Crore) | Slots Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 64.3 | 13 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2.75 | 5 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 22.95 | 6 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16.4 | 8 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 16.05 | 9 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 43.4 | 9 |
| Delhi Capitals | 21.8 | 8 |
| Punjab Kings | 11.5 | 4 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25.5 | 10 |
| Gujarat Titans | 12.9 | 5 |
Key Players To Watch at IPL Mini-Auction
Several marquee names in the auction pool could emerge as key players on the day, given their proven impact and versatility. Australia all rounder Cameron Green offers a rare combination of power hitting and seam bowling, making him an attractive option for franchises seeking balance.
South African Marco Jansen's left arm pace and lower order hitting add value across formats, while Venkatesh Iyer remains a sought after Indian all rounder capable of influencing games at the top of the order.
Among batters, Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan will be closely watched as teams look for domestic batting depth, while Steve Smith's experience and adaptability could appeal to sides in need of leadership and stability.
Liam Livingstone brings explosive batting and multiple bowling options, and Quinton de Kock's wicketkeeping and big match pedigree make him a premium overseas pick. In the bowling department, Matheesha Pathirana's death over skills and Ravi Bishnoi's consistent leg spin continue to be in demand, ensuring strong interest from franchises with specific tactical needs.
Record buys in recent IPL auctions
The IPL auction has continued to set new financial benchmarks in recent years. At the IPL 2025 auction, Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in league history after being signed by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore, shortly after Shreyas Iyer was snapped up by Punjab Kings for ₹26.75 crore.
Among overseas players, Mitchell Starc remains the costliest, having been bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹24.75 crore ahead of the IPL 2024 season.
With tight purses, limited slots and a diverse player pool, the IPL 2026 auction promises intense bidding battles and strategic decision making as franchises look to fine tune their squads.
