The IPL 2026 auction is less than a month away, with the mini auction slated to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
Ahead of that, the 10 IPL teams announced their retention list for the upcoming season. Several prominent players were released, ensuring an eventful auction as teams confirmed their final retained lists ahead of the mini auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders created headlines by releasing Venkatesh Iyer, the most expensive player on the list, who was bought for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore. The two-time IPL champions also parted ways with pacers Spencer Johnson and Anrich Nortje. However, the most notable departure is that of Andre Russell, bringing an end to his iconic 12-year association with KKR as he enters the auction pool.
Defending
champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru decided to move on from England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, along with young pacer Rasikh Dar. Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, bolstered their squad by acquiring Sanju Samson through a trade deal, although they released Sri Lankan quick Matheesha Pathirana.
Punjab Kings underwent limited changes this time, choosing to retain most of their core. Yet, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell will return to the auction pool after a below-par IPL 2025 campaign. Lucknow Super Giants decided to release Akash Deep and Ravi Bishnoi, while Gujarat Titans let go of South African pacer Gerald Coetzee.
In a significant trade development, Rajasthan Royals bid farewell to their captain Sanju Samson-who moved to Chennai in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja. Mumbai Indians also made notable moves in the trading window, adding Shardul Thakur (from LSG), Sherfane Rutherford (from GT), and Mayank Markande (from KKR) to their roster.
Interestingly, released players can still seal short-term signings with other teams before the auction if mutual agreements are reached in time.
IPL 2026 Auction Purse: KKR Lead the Pack
Among the ten franchises, Kolkata Knight Riders enter the mini auction with the largest purse- Rs 64.3 crore. Chennai Super Kings follow with Rs 43.4 crore remaining, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru possess around Rs 16 crore. On the other end, Mumbai Indians will have to be the most strategic, holding the smallest purse of just Rs 2.75 crore.
But who has the most purchasing power? In this article, we shall take a look at the teams and their ability to carve out their optimum deal in the mini auction.
IPL 2026 Auction Purses and Remaining Slots
| Team | Purse Remaining (in Rs Crore) | Slots Remaining | Overseas Slots |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 64.3 | 13 | 6 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2.75 | 5 | 1 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 22.95 | 6 | 4 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16.4 | 8 | 2 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 16.05 | 9 | 1 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 43.4 | 9 | 4 |
| Delhi Capitals | 21.8 | 8 | 5 |
| Punjab Kings | 11.5 | 4 | 2 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25.5 | 10 | 2 |
| Gujarat Titans | 12.9 | 5 | 4 |
Which IPL Team has the Best Purchasing Power?
The Knight Riders have a Rs 64.3 crore auction purse, but they will have to bring in 13 players, and 6 of them can be overseas players. The KKR franchise have their task cut out to formulate a strong squad. Although they have more than Rs 20 crore than their closest rival in the auction, it won't be a cakewalk for them. Roughly, the Knights have an average of Rs 5 crore (Rs 4.94 crore) to sign a player, but their overseas acquisitions can cost them around Rs 35 crore and more.
For CSK, the amount is around Rs 4.82 crore per player, and they have to bring in 4 foreigners. Delhi Capitals can be in a spot of bother as they have around Rs 21.8 crore for eight players, and five of them can be foreigners. For DC, the 2.725 crore per player can be further constrained as they will have to accommodate overseas players. Mumbai Indians have a purse of Rs 2.75 crore and have just one foreigner left, hence it will mostly be an idle one for them, as the Paltans will be aiming to rope in base price acquisitions.
Rajasthan Royals have around Rs 16 crore for nine players, and the Royals also have a small margin for error in the auction. For RCB and PBKS, the purchasing power hovers around Rs 2 crore per player, and they will have to be careful with their business.
Purse per Player for Each Team in IPL 2026 Mini Auction
Kolkata Knight Riders - Rs 4.92 crore
Chennai Super Kings - Rs 4.82 crore
Lucknow Super Giants - Rs 3.82 crore
Punjab Kings - Rs 2.87 crore
Delhi Capitals - Rs 2.72 crore
Gujarat Titans - Rs 2.58 crore
Sunrisers Hyderabad - Rs 2.55 crore
Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Rs 2.05 crore
Rajasthan Royals - Rs 1.78 crore
Mumbai Indians - Rs 55 lakh
