The player pool for the IPL 2026 mini-auction has been officially narrowed down — only 350 players will go under the hammer when the auction takes place on December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu
Dhabi.
Originally, around 1,390 cricketers had registered for the auction. Of those, the final list features 240 Indian and 110 overseas players.
IPL MINI Auction Breakdown: Who’s In
Here’s how the 350 shortlisted cricketers are distributed:
|
Category |
Number of players |
|
Capped Indians |
16 |
|
Capped Overseas |
96 |
|
Uncapped Indians |
224 |
|
Uncapped Overseas |
14 |
In total, these add up to the pool of 350.
Auction Details & Price-Caps
- The top reserve price remains set at ₹2 crore — a mark chosen by a select group of players.
- Teams will compete for a total of 77 slots at the auction, including 31 reserved for overseas players.
- The event will begin at 1:00 PM UAE time (which is 2:30 PM IST) on the scheduled day.
Why the Shortlist Matters
Reducing the field from nearly 1,400 registered players down to 350 makes the auction more streamlined. It focuses the bidding on those most likely to be picked — a mix of experienced internationals and promising uncapped talent.
For franchises, this shortlist offers clarity: they now know which players are realistically available and can strategize spending accordingly (with only a limited number of slots and a capped purse per team).
For players, especially domestic uncapped ones and lesser-known overseas entrants, being on the final list is a major opportunity — perhaps their best shot at making it to a big-money league like the IPL.
Full list of players is HERE
