IPL 2026 Auction Details: Date, Time, Player List, Format & Team Purses

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The excitement around the Indian Premier League is rising once again as the IPL 2026 Mini Auction gets closer. With teams aiming to fix gaps and add match-winners to their squads, the auction is expected to be full of smart strategies, intense bidding wars, and surprise picks.

The mini auction will give franchises a final chance to strengthen their squads before the new IPL season begins.

IPL 2026 Auction Date, Time and Venue

• Date: December 16, 2025 (Tuesday)
• Venue: Abu Dhabi
• Start Time: 2:30 PM IST

The auction will be held overseas for the second time in recent years, adding an international flavour to the event.

IPL 2026 Auction Player List

Initially, over 1,300 players had registered for the IPL 2026 auction. After teams submitted their preferences, the BCCI shortlisted 350 players for the final auction pool.

Final Player Breakdown:

• Indian Players: 240
• Overseas Players: 110

Interestingly, 35 new players have been added later who were not part of the original list, giving franchises more options across batting, bowling, and all-rounder roles.

Star Overseas Players to Watch

Several popular international cricketers are part of the auction and are expected to attract big bids. Some key overseas names include:

1. Quinton de Kock (South Africa)
2. Dunith Wellalage (Sri Lanka)
3. George Linde (South Africa)
4. Arab Gul (Afghanistan)
5. Akeem Auguste (West Indies)
6. Miles Hammond (England)

Quinton de Kock, in particular, is expected to be one of the hottest picks after his recent strong performances.

IPL 2026 Mini Auction Format

The IPL 2026 auction will follow the mini-auction format, which allows teams to focus on specific needs instead of rebuilding their entire squad.

Squad Rules:

• Minimum squad size: 18 players
• Maximum squad size: 25 players
• Maximum overseas players in squad: 8
• Maximum overseas players in playing 11: 4

Players are divided into categories such as:

1. Batters
2. Bowlers
3. All-rounders
4. Wicketkeeper-batters

Each player comes with a fixed base price, and teams bid openly. Unsold players may return later in the auction. Like last year, no Right to Match (RTM) cards will be available.

Remaining Team Purses for IPL 2026 Auction

Here is the list of remaining budgets for all 10 IPL teams:

Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings will be among the most active teams due to their strong remaining purses.

Live Telecast and Streaming Details

Fans can watch the IPL 2026 Auction live on:

• TV: Star Sports Network
• Live Streaming: Jio Hotstar (App & Website)

Final Thoughts

With big overseas stars, a fresh tie-breaker rule, and several teams holding strong budgets, the IPL 2026 Mini Auction promises to be one of the most tactical auctions in IPL history. All eyes will be on December 16 as franchises make crucial decisions that could shape the next IPL season.

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