The excitement for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Auction is reaching new heights. After a thrilling 2025 season that saw Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lift their maiden IPL trophy, all eyes are now on how franchises prepare for the next edition.
The IPL 2026 Mini Auction is expected to take place between December 13 to 15, 2025, with teams submitting their retention lists by November 15, 2025. It will be a smaller, tactical auction — yet packed with major decisions, surprise releases, and the comeback of big names who went unsold last year.
IPL 2026 Auction Date & Key Highlights
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Auction Type | Mini Auction |
| Expected Date | December 13–15, 2025 |
| Retention Deadline | November 15, 2025 |
| Venue | Likely in India |
| Teams | 10 |
| Focus Areas | Retentions, budget reshuffling, filling weak spots |
Player Retention Rules & Strategy
Franchises can retain a limited number of players and must balance between star performers and young prospects. This season, focus will be on budget control, youth development, and squad balance.
Teams like Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) are expected to make bold moves after finishing at the bottom in 2025, while RCB, MI, and GT are likely to fine-tune their existing squads.
Read Also:- IPL All Team Coaches and Their Salaries
IPL 2026 Auction Players List
1. IPL Auction Pool 2026 (Team-Wise Expected Released Players)
| Team | Likely Released Players |
|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran, Devon Conway |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | T Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Dushmanta Chameera, Mohit Sharma |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Karim Janat, Ishant Sharma |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Venkatesh Iyer, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Spencer Johnson |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav, David Miller |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Tilak Varma, Reece Topley, Will Jacks, Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Sanju Samson*, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Rana, Shimron Hetmyer |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Mayank Agarwal, Tim Seifert |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Shami, Adam Zampa, Abhinav Manohar |
2. Big International Names Returning to the IPL 2026 Auction
Several unsold players from the 2025 auction are likely to re-register for IPL 2026. Some missed out due to form or injuries last season but have the pedigree to attract big bids this time.
| Player | Country | Base Price (₹) | Chance of Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Warner | Australia | 2 Cr | Very High |
| Kane Williamson | New Zealand | 2 Cr | Very High |
| Jonny Bairstow | England | 2 Cr | High |
| Steve Smith | Australia | 2 Cr | High |
| Cameron Green | Australia | — | Very High |
| Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | 2 Cr | High |
| Adil Rashid | England | 2 Cr | Medium |
| Sikandar Raza | Zimbabwe | 1.25 Cr | High |
| Michael Bracewell | New Zealand | 1.5 Cr | Medium |
| Finn Allen | New Zealand | 2 Cr | High |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Afghanistan | 2 Cr | Medium |
| Shardul Thakur | India | 2 Cr | Very High |
| Prithvi Shaw | India | 75 L | Very High |
| Sarfaraz Khan | India | 75 L | High |
| Shivam Mavi | India | 75 L | High |
| Kyle Jamieson | New Zealand | 1.5 Cr | Medium |
| Dwaine Pretorius | South Africa | 75 L | Medium |
| Ben Duckett | England | 2 Cr | Medium |
These returning names are expected to spark renewed bidding interest, especially Warner, Shaw, and Green, who fit perfectly into the current team needs.
A few overseas all-rounders and finishers may return, especially for mid-season cover or replacement roles.
2. Indian Players with Strong Domestic & IPL Background
These Indian cricketers have IPL experience and could attract attention again if they perform in the ongoing domestic season or Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
| Player | Base Price (₹) | Chance of Return | Reason / Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prithvi Shaw | 75 L | Very High | Could get second chance; attacking opener and still young. |
| Sarfaraz Khan | 75 L | High | Consistent domestic run-scorer; useful middle-order backup. |
| Shivam Mavi | 75 L | High | Indian pacer; may attract bids from teams lacking local bowlers. |
| Navdeep Saini | 75 L | Medium | Has pace and experience; possible backup option. |
| Mayank Agarwal | 1 Cr | High | Proven top-order IPL batter; experience could bring him back. |
| Umesh Yadav | 2 Cr | Medium | Senior pacer; may be picked for leadership and bench strength. |
| Chetan Sakariya | 75 L | Medium | Left-arm Indian pacer; teams like CSK or PBKS may show interest. |
| Ripal Patel | 30 L | Low-Medium | Decent domestic T20 striker; outside chance for LSG or DC. |
| Rishi Dhawan | 30 L | Medium | Indian all-rounder; handy with bat and ball. |
4. Unlikely to Return in IPL 2026 Auction
The following players are either inactive, retired, or haven’t shown recent form in domestic or franchise cricket. Their chances of registering again are very low.
| Player | Base Price (₹) | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Jordan | 2 Cr | Out of form and out of contention for most leagues. |
| Adam Milne | 2 Cr | Frequent injuries; unlikely to attract bids. |
| Gus Atkinson | 2 Cr | New to IPL; may skip to focus on international cricket. |
| Kyle Mayers | 1.5 Cr | Decline in T20 output; unlikely to be prioritized. |
| Pathum Nissanka | 75 L | Not a power-hitter; poor fit for IPL’s tempo. |
Overall Observation
Teams with smaller purses (like RCB, MI, and RR) will target value signings and experienced backups rather than marquee names.
Around 25–30 unsold players from IPL 2025 are likely to re-register for IPL 2026.
Players like Warner, Williamson, Bairstow, Shardul Thakur, Prithvi Shaw, and Sarfaraz Khan stand strong chances of getting picked this time.
Spinners and all-rounders will again be in focus due to Indian pitch conditions — names like Adil Rashid, Sikandar Raza, and Bracewell could be key picks.
What Makes IPL 2026 Auction Special
- Comeback Stories: Big names like Warner, Williamson, and Bairstow will aim for redemption.
- Indian Core Expansion: Many domestic players, including Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan, are expected to return stronger.
- Tactical Spending: Teams will avoid overspending and instead focus on specialist roles.
- RCB’s Title Defense: As champions, RCB’s auction moves will set the tone for the season.
Read more: – Most Successful IPL Captains
Conclusion
The IPL 2026 Auction will bring a perfect mix of experience, strategy, and comeback stories. Teams are preparing to fine-tune their lineups with a smart mix of youth and veterans. With major stars like David Warner, Kane Williamson, and Prithvi Shaw returning to the auction pool and multiple teams reworking their combinations, fans can expect another dramatic bidding war this December.
As franchises submit their retention lists by mid-November, the official player pool announcement will mark the beginning of the countdown to one of the most exciting mini auctions in IPL history.
