The IPL 2026 auction is scheduled for December 16, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, allowing teams to fill remaining squad slots after retentions and releases.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) enter with the biggest purse of Rs 64.3 crore, based on typical mini auction allocations post mega-auction retentions.
Amid this, as the mini auction approaches, the Kolkata Knight Riders will have the biggest task to fill the void after releasing as many as 12 players. The three-time IPL champions let go of Andre Russell, who has since retired from IPL and has been appointed as KKR's 'Power Coach'.
They have 6 overseas slots left, and KKR are expected to go for a number of star players, which includes England's Liam Livingstone.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) released Liam Livingstone ahead of the auction, despite acquiring him for Rs 8.75 crore in the 2025 mega auction. His IPL 2025 performance was underwhelming, as the England star scored 112 runs in eight innings at a 133.33 strike rate, one fifty, and two wickets in nine overs at 8.44 economy, prompting the decision amid his high price tag.
The Knight Riders, amid this, have been put on high alert, especially after Livingstone's recent heroics. The England star set the ILT20 ablaze with a scintillating knock for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders. The 32-year-old scored an unbeaten 82 runs off just 38 deliveries, hitting 8 mammoth sixes in his knock.
A familiarity with the Knight Riders franchise may entice KKR to bring him back to the IPL auction. To acquire Livingstone's services, they may have to pay around Rs 10-12 crore, which would perfectly fit their bills. Apart from KKR, the Chennai Super Kings will also be interested his bringing him to the team.
