ILT20 2026 Auction Overview – The DP World International League T20 (ILT20) made history by holding its first-ever player auction for Season 4 on October 1, 2025, in Dubai. This marked a major shift for the league, which earlier followed a draft-based system.
With six franchises competing, the auction filled the remaining slots from a pool of 196 players, ensuring squads reached the required strength ahead of the season starting on December 2, 2025 (UAE National Day) and concluding on January 4, 2026.
International League T20 Auction: Key Details
| Key Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Auction Date | Wednesday, 1 October 2025 |
| Venue | Dubai, UAE |
| Players in Auction | 196 shortlisted |
| Players Sold | 75 players |
| Combined Purse | USD 12 Million approx. |
| Team Salary Cap | USD 2 Million |
| Wildcard Option | Up to 2 players outside auction (USD 250,000 each) |
| Tournament Dates | 2 December 2025 – 4 January 2026 |
| Total Matches | 34 |
Squads After Auction
Each team has now finalised their squads. Here are the updated rosters with key signings from the auction:
| Team | Key Players (Retained + Auction) |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Knight Riders | Liam Livingstone, Alishan Sharafu, Alex Hales, Sherfane Rutherford, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Phil Salt, Jason Holder (Wildcard), Piyush Chawla (Wildcard), Unmukt Chand ($40K), Michael Pepper ($40K) |
| Desert Vipers | Lockie Ferguson, Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Max Holden, Sam Curran, Wanindu Hasaranga, Andries Gous, Shimron Hetmyer (Wildcard), Fakhar Zaman ($80K), Naseem Shah ($80K), Tom Bruce ($80K) |
| Dubai Capitals | Jordan Matthew Cox, Rovman Powell, Gulbadin Naib, Sediqullah Atal, Waqar Salamkheil, Haider Ali, Muhammad Jawadullah, Jimmy Neesham, David Willey (Wildcard), Leus de Plooy (Wildcard), Scott Currie ($250K), Mohammad Nabi ($80K) |
| Gulf Giants | James Vince, Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, Mark Adair, Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Kyle Mayers (Wildcard), Matthew Forde (Wildcard), Liam Dawson ($170K), Tabraiz Shamsi ($40K) |
| MI Emirates | AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kamindu Mendis, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton, Muhammad Waseem, Chris Woakes, Jonny Bairstow, Andre Fletcher ($260K – Highest Bid), Naveen-ul-Haq ($100K), Muhammad Rohid ($140K RTM), Shakib Al Hasan ($40K) |
| Sharjah Warriorz | Tim Southee, Dinesh Karthik, Johnson Charles, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Saurabh Netravalkar, Sikandar Raza, Tim David, Tom Abell (Wildcard), Adil Rashid (Wildcard), Junaid Siddique ($170K), Taskin Ahmed ($80K), Wasim Akram ($55K) |
Biggest Talking Point – Ravichandran Ashwin Goes Unsold
The headline story of the auction was Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s iconic off-spinner with the highest base price of USD 120,000, who shockingly went unsold in both the main and accelerated rounds.
- Ravichandran Ashwin retired from IPL and international cricket in 2025, making him eligible for global leagues.
- He has already secured a BBL deal with Sydney Thunder for BBL|15.
- Despite being the most high-profile Indian player, no ILT20 franchise picked him up in the auction.
Saudi Arabia Joins ILT20
A major development this season is the partnership between ILT20 and the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation (SACF). Each franchise was mandated to pick at least one Saudi player in the auction, creating a direct pathway for local cricketers. From upcoming seasons, ILT20 matches will also be hosted in Saudi Arabia.
Why This Auction Matters
- First-ever auction model replacing the draft
- Saudi Arabia’s official entry into franchise cricket
- 75 players sold from a shortlist of 196, including global stars and emerging talent
- Salary cap of USD 2M ensures balanced squads
- Top buys included Andre Fletcher ($260K), Scott Currie ($250K), Junaid Siddique ($170K)
Fans witnessed fierce bidding wars for spinners, all-rounders, and T20 finishers. With retained stars like Sam Curran, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, and Wanindu Hasaranga, plus new additions from Saudi Arabia, ILT20 Season 4 promises to be the most competitive edition yet.
Read more: – Dinesh Karthik & Saudi Arabia Take Center Stage in ILT20 Season 4
Final Word
The ILT20 2026 Auction turned out to be a groundbreaking event in global franchise cricket. With Saudi Arabia’s entry, Ashwin’s shock snub, and USD 12 million purse, the spotlight was firmly on Dubai. Cricket fans worldwide are set for a spectacle starting December 2, 2025.
