The stage is set for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction that will be held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. According to the BCCI, the auction will begin with capped players in the order of specialism of batters, all-rounders, wicket keeper/batters, fast bowlers, and spin bowlers followed by similar sets for uncapped players.
Date: December 16 Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Where does IPL 2026 auction begin?
Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.
When will the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction starts?
Tuesday, December 16 at 2:30 pm IST, 1 pm Local Time.
Where you can watch the IPL 2026 auction on TV?
- Live telecast of the IPL 2026 auction will be on Star Sports Network.
Where to live stream IPL 2026 auction?
- The live streaming of IPL 2026 auction will be available on JioHotstar app and website.
How many slots are to be filled?
- Totally 77 slots (includes 31 for overseas players) are available.
How many players have registered for the auction?
Out of 1355 names of Longlist, 359 have been shortlisted.
- Indians: 244
- Overseas: 115
40 players have set their base price at INR 2 crore (approximately USD 220,000), including Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi as the only Indians in this category.
| Country | Players shortlisted |
| India | 244 |
| Afghanistan | 10 |
| Bangladesh | 7 |
| England | 22 |
| Ireland | 1 |
| Malaysia | 1 |
| New Zealand | 16 |
| South Africa | 16 |
| Sri Lanka | 12 |
| West Indies | 9 |
| Australia | 21 |
Maximum squad size
Squads may comprise a maximum of 25 players, including up to eight overseas players, with a minimum size of 18 players.
Who Could Emerge as the Most Expensive Picks?
Australia’s Cameron Green is expected to attract significant attention, potentially exceeding INR 25 crore (approximately USD 2.7 million). Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, and Bishnoi are also likely to draw interest, though their final prices may not reach such high levels.
What is the Budget Limit for Each Franchise?
Following trades and retentions,
- KKR enter the auction with the biggest purse of: INR 64.30 crore (USD 7.1 million approx.)
- CSK rank second with: INR 43.40 crore (USD 4.8 million approx.).
Will IPL Witness Its First ₹30-Crore Player Purchase?
While KKR and CSK are both likely to compete aggressively for Green, a ₹30-crore bid (approx. USD 3.3 million) still appears unlikely. What is certain, however, is that no overseas player can receive more than ₹18 crore (around USD 2 million), even if the final bid exceeds that figure. This is due to the IPL’s “maximum-fee” rule, which caps an overseas player’s earnings at the lower of two amounts: the highest retention slab (₹18 crore) or the highest price paid at the previous mega auction (₹27 crore for Rishabh Pant).
Which Uncapped Players Could Spring a Surprise?
Jammu & Kashmir allrounder Auqib Nabi and Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma are on franchise radar, along with Uttar Pradesh allrounder Prashant Veer, Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma, and Mumbai Indians’ former left-arm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur.
Marquee set
As this is a mini-auction, there will be no marquee set. The auction will open with capped batters, a group that includes Green, who has registered as a batter, along with Devon Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, and Prithvi Shaw.
When will the accelerated round start?
The accelerated round will begin after the first 70 players are presented, covering the remaining pool. Franchises will then submit names of unsold players from the master list for subsequent accelerated rounds.
Can the teams use the RTM card to buy back a player?
- Since it’s a mini-auction, the RTM option is not available to the teams.
