The IPL 2026 auction is scheduled for December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. After retentions and trades, the 10 franchises will compete
to fill 77 remaining slots, including 31 overseas positions.
With 350 players in the pool, teams like KKR and CSK are expected to be aggressive due to larger purses. Without RTM cards, bidding wars could drive up prices for in-demand players such as Venkatesh Iyer, Liam Livingstone, Cameron Green, and Prithvi Shaw. Teams with limited funds, like Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, will focus on value picks, especially uncapped talent.
In this article, we shall have a look at the entire financial aspects of the IPL 2026 auction - from the purses, RTM Cards and other aspects.
No RTM Cards in IPL 2026 Mini Auction
Unlike mega-auctions, no Right to Match (RTM) cards will be available in this mini auction. Teams cannot match rival bids for their former players. This forces franchises to bid decisively for targets. The total purse available across all teams is ₹641 crore, with uneven distribution based on retention decisions.
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE Updates
IPL 2026 Auction Purse
The table below shows each franchise's position after retentions and trades:
| Team | Remaining Purse (₹ Cr) | Retained Players | Slots Available | Overseas Slots | Key Needs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 64.30 | 12 | 13 | 6 | All-rounders, pacers; possible interest in Venkatesh Iyer |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 43.40 | 16 | 9 | 4 | Finishers, spinners; interest in Cameron Green |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 40.50 | 16 | 9 | 4 | Openers, death bowlers |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 38.15 | 15 | 10 | 5 | Middle-order stability |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 27.50 | 18 | 7 | 2 | Wicketkeepers, uncapped players |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 22.00 | 19 | 6 | 3 | Explosive batters |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 16.40 | 17 | 8 | 2 | Pace attack depth |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 16.05 | 16 | 9 | 4 | Leadership and core strength |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 12.50 | 20 | 5 | 2 | Utility players |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 2.75 | 20 | 5 | 1 | Uncapped finishers |
IPL 2026 Tie Breaker Bids
The IPL auction's tie-breaker mechanism, known as the "closed-door" or silent bidding process, addresses situations where multiple franchises vie for a player under tight salary purse constraints.
This process activates under precise conditions. When one franchise submits a Last Bid, its absolute maximum due to insufficient funds for the next bid increment, and no higher bids follow. At least one other franchise could match this Last Bid but also lacks purse for a higher amount. The auctioneer then invites other interested teams to declare a Matching Bid equal to the Last Bid. The team with the highest bid will get the player, and the amount written in the tie-breaker bid will be handed to BCCI, and the amount won't be disclosed.
