The IPL 2026 mini-auction is almost here, and the buzz around trades, IPL retentions, and player targets has reached fever pitch. With the pre-auction trade window already open, teams are reshuffling their squads aggressively—especially after the blockbuster confirmed swap involving Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja (with Sam Curran also included in the exchange). And now, with the official long list revealing 1,355 registered players and several major stars opting out, the build-up to the auction has become even more dramatic.
The IPL 2026 pre-auction phase now focuses on surgical fixes instead of major rebuilds—strengthening Indian cores, adding reliable middle-order options, and signing overseas all-rounders after many veterans skipped the tournament. The final list of retained and released players was submitted to BCCI by 5 PM IST on November 15, 2025.
IPL Auction 2026 Time and Date (Updated Summary)
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Auction Date | December 16, 2025 (Confirmed) |
| Auction Type | One-day mini-auction |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi (Confirmed by BCCI) |
| Retention Deadline | November 15, 2025 – 5 PM IST |
| Total Purse (All Teams Combined) | ₹237.55 crore |
| Team Purse (Standard) | ₹151 crore per team |
| Total Registered Players | 1,355 (Updated) |
| ₹2 Crore Base Price Bracket | 45 Players (Updated) |
| Slots Available | 77 (31 overseas) |
| Streaming | Star Sports, JioCinema, IPL YouTube |
BCCI has confirmed that the IPL 2026 mini-auction will be held at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi on December 16. This year’s auction pool is one of the largest ever, featuring 1,355 registered players, including 45 names in the ₹2 crore base price bracket. Kolkata Knight Riders enter the auction with the biggest purse of ₹64.3 crore, while Mumbai Indians have the lowest purse at ₹2.75 crore.
Read more: IPL 2026 Auction Players List: All Teams
IPL 2026 Auction & Windows – What to Expect
| Phase | What Happens | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Auction Trade Window | Cash trades + player swaps | Open now till 1 week before auction |
| Mini-Auction | Teams fill final squad gaps | December 16, 2025 | Abu Dhabi |
| Post-Auction Trade Window | Further squad tuning | Open until 1 month before IPL 2026 |
Venue Update: BCCI has locked Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi as the official host venue for the IPL 2026 auction.
Retention Rules & Purse (Mini-Auction 2026)
- Retention Deadline: November 15, 2025 (5 PM IST)
- Max Retentions: Up to 6 players
- Overseas Limit: Max 2 retained overseas
- Team Purse: ₹151 crore per team
- New Pay Model: Auction price + ₹7.5 lakh match fee
Read more: IPL 2026 Retention Players List
Teams are expected to keep strong cores, release under-utilized players, and target specific roles for upgrades during the auction.
Mini-Auction Cheat Sheet (Updated)
| Item | At a Glance |
|---|---|
| Purse | ₹151 crore per team |
| Total Slots Available | 77 (31 overseas) |
| Total Registered Players | 1,355 (Updated) |
| ₹2 Crore Base Price | 45 Players (Updated) |
| Date | December 16, 2025 |
| Venue | Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi |
| Broadcast | Star Sports | JioCinema | IPL YouTube |
IPL Team Wishlist
Note: Team priorities and targets remain fluid until the final auction day.
What’s New in IPL 2026 Mini-Auction Rules
- Right to Match (RTM): Teams can match the final bid once.
- Salary cap: ₹151 crore per franchise.
- Two-part player pay: Auction price + ₹7.5 lakh per match fee.
- Trade flexibility: Cash + player swaps allowed until early December 2025.
Confirmed Trades & Market Buzz (Latest)
- Sanju Samson → CSK | Ravindra Jadeja & Sam Curran → RR (Confirmed)
- Shardul Thakur → MI (₹2 crore)
- Sherfane Rutherford → MI (₹2.6 crore)
- Arjun Tendulkar → LSG (₹30 lakh)
- Devdutt Padikkal → SRH (likely all-cash)
- Teams exploring moves for Ishan Kishan, Cameron Green, T Natarajan, David Miller
- MI also pursuing Arshdeep Singh for left-arm pace
Team-Wise Targets (Updated)
| Team | What they’re looking for | Names frequently linked |
|---|---|---|
| CSK | Overseas all-rounders; finishers; pace depth | Cameron Green, Donovan Ferreira, Mark Wood, Gerald Coetzee |
| RR | Bowling reboot; wicket-takers | T Natarajan, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph |
| KKR | Seam all-rounder; WK-bat; top-order hitter | Cameron Green, Ben Duckett, Alex Carey |
| LSG | Overseas pace | Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson |
| SRH | Middle-order anchor | Rilee Rossouw, Michael Bracewell |
| DC | Opener; leg-spin | Mayank Agarwal, Finn Allen |
| MI | Spin depth + utility all-rounder | Tabraiz Shamsi, Krishnappa Gowtham |
| GT | Middle-order stability | Ben Duckett, Rassie van der Dussen |
| RCB | Power-hitter; seam all-rounder | Mark Wood, Jhye Richardson |
| PBKS | WK finisher; spin hitters | Tom Curran, Tim Seifert |
Like to know? IPL 2026 Trade Players List
Uncapped (Under-the-Radar) Players to Watch
| Player | Team | Why He’s Trending |
|---|---|---|
| Ashutosh Sharma | DC | Finisher; elite SR |
| Robin Minz | MI | Long-term WK project |
| Manoj Bhandage | RCB | Utility domestic all-rounder |
Read more: – IPL 2026 Released Players List
The IPL 2026 mini-auction—now officially set for December 16 in Abu Dhabi—will be all about precision and smart squad-building. With 1,355 players registered, 45 in the ₹2 crore base price group, and major stars like Maxwell, Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali opting out, teams have entered the most crucial phase of pre-season planning.
