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) finally lift their maiden IPL trophy, all eyes are now on how franchises reshape their squads for the new season.
The IPL 2026 Mini Auction will take place on December 16, 2025 as a one-day mini auction. Teams have already submitted their final retention lists by November 15, 2025 (5 PM IST). After Dubai and Jeddah in the previous seasons, this year’s auction will be staged at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, continuing the overseas auction pattern. A massive 1,355 players have registered for the auction, including 1,062 Indian and 293 overseas players from 14 countries (212 capped, 1,121 uncapped, 22 from associate nations). With the official released and traded players list now confirmed, the 2026 auction pool looks one of the strongest in recent years.
IPL 2026 Auction Date & Key Highlights
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Auction Type | Mini Auction (one-day event) |
| Auction Date | December 16, 2025 |
| Retention Deadline | November 15, 2025 (5 PM IST) – Completed |
| Venue | Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi (overseas venue) |
| Total Teams | 10 |
| Total Registered Players | 1,355 (1,062 Indian, 293 overseas; 212 capped, 1,121 uncapped, 22 associate nation players) |
| Total Slots Available | 77 slots overall, including 31 overseas slots |
| Combined Purse Left | ₹237.55 crore across 10 teams for the mini-auction |
| Elite Base Price Group | 45 players in the ₹2 crore bracket – including only two Indians (Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer) |
| Major Themes | Record registrations, trade window moves, official released list, squad reshuffle, blockbuster swaps, comeback stars, and big overseas names opting out in favour of other leagues |
Team-Wise Purse Remaining & Slots for IPL 2026 Mini Auction
With retentions finalised and the full auction list submitted, all ten franchises now enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a limited purse and fixed number of slots. Here is the updated team-wise snapshot of players retained, slots available, overseas slots, and purse left for December 16:
| Team | No. of Players | Available Slots | Overseas Slots | Purse Left (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 12 | 13 | 6 | 64.30 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 16 | 9 | 4 | 43.40 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 15 | 10 | 2 | 25.50 |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 19 | 6 | 4 | 22.95 |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 17 | 8 | 5 | 21.80 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 17 | 8 | 2 | 16.40 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 16 | 9 | 1 | 16.05 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 20 | 5 | 4 | 12.90 |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 21 | 4 | 2 | 11.50 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 20 | 5 | 1 | 2.75 |
KKR will enter the auction with the biggest purse (₹64.30 crore) and 13 slots to fill, including 6 overseas, giving them the flexibility to target multiple marquee names. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians, with just ₹2.75 crore left, will have to rely on smart, value-for-money picks to plug remaining gaps in their squad.
Player Retention Rules & Strategy
For IPL 2026, teams are operating with the latest mini-auction framework: up to 6 retentions allowed, within the salary cap and squad-size limits. The salary purse for this cycle is ₹151 crore per team, and the updated two-part payment model (auction price + match fee) remains in place.
Teams like Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are heading into the auction after a confirmed blockbuster swap involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sam Curran, while RCB, MI, GT, and DC are focused on sharper, selective upgrades around their established cores.
Read Also:- IPL All Team Coaches and Their Salaries
IPL 2026 Auction Players List
1. Official Team-Wise Released Players List (Confirmed for IPL 2026 Auction)
As per the latest retention and trade window updates, all 10 franchises have confirmed their released players list. Most of these names are expected to enter the IPL 2026 auction pool, while a few have already moved via trades to new teams. Below is the updated team-wise snapshot.
| Team | Official Released Players (Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction) |
|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Andre Siddarth, Deepak Hooda, Devon Conway, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Matheesha Pathirana, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran, Shaik Rasheed, Vansh Bedi, Vijay Shankar |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | Darshan Nalkande, Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Manvanth Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Sediqullah Atal |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | Dasun Shanaka, Gerald Coetzee, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Mahipal Lomror |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Luvnith Sisodia, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Spencer Johnson, Venkatesh Iyer |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Akash Deep, Aryan Juyal, David Miller, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph, Yuvraj Chaudhary |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Bevan John Jacobs, Karn Sharma, Lizaad Williams, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, V. Satyanarayana Penmetsa, Vignesh Puthur |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Kuldeep Sen, Praveen Dubey |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Akash Madhwal, Ashok Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kumar Kartikeya Singh, Kunal Rathore, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Liam Livingstone, Lungisani Ngidi, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Agarwal, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chhikara |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Abhinav Manohar, Adam Zampa, Atharva Taide, Rahul Chahar, Sachin Baby, Simarjeet Singh, Wiaan Mulder |
Note: Players moved via confirmed trades (like Jadeja, Samson, Sam Curran, Shami, Mayank Markande, Arjun Tendulkar, Nitish Rana, and Donovan Ferreira) are not part of the auction pool even though they have changed teams. In addition, a few released stars have opted out of IPL 2026 entirely, choosing coaching roles or other leagues. The released list above mainly represents players who will be available for bidding on December 16, 2025.
Key Released Players with IPL 2025 Price, Base Price & Chance of Return
From this big released pool, several high-profile Indian and overseas stars are expected to attract strong interest again. The table below combines their IPL 2025 team, auction/base price (from the 2025 list) and a simple editorial view on their chance of getting picked in the IPL 2026 auction, along with notes for big names who have stepped away from the IPL this season.
| Player | IPL 2025 Team | Role | IPL 2025 Price (₹ Cr) | Base Price 2025 (₹ Cr) | Chance of Return in IPL 2026 Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | CSK | Batter | 6.25 | 2.00 | Very High – proven IPL opener, left-hander with strong numbers. |
| Matheesha Pathirana | CSK | Bowler | 13.00 | — | Very High – death-overs specialist, still among the most unique T20 pacers. |
| Rachin Ravindra | CSK | All-rounder | 4.00 | 1.50 | High – offers top-order batting plus left-arm spin, fits multiple roles. |
| Faf du Plessis | DC | Batter | 2.00 | 2.00 | Not in auction – has opted to play in the PSL instead of IPL 2026. |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | DC | Batter | 9.00 | 2.00 | Very High – explosive powerplay hitter; likely to trigger a bidding war. |
| Gerald Coetzee | GT | Bowler | 2.40 | 1.25 | High – pace, bounce and hitting ability make him a modern T20 asset. |
| Karim Janat | GT | All-rounder | 0.75 | 0.75 | High – value-for-money seam-bowling all-rounder in the lower order. |
| Dasun Shanaka | GT | All-rounder | Unsold / TBA | 0.75 | Medium – finishing skills are useful but overseas slots are competitive. |
| Andre Russell | KKR | All-rounder | 12.00 | — | Not in auction – released by KKR and now involved as a “power coach”, stepping away from IPL 2026 as a player. |
| Anrich Nortje | KKR | Bowler | 6.50 | 2.00 | Very High – high-pace specialist, ideal for teams needing an attacking quick. |
| Moeen Ali | KKR | All-rounder | 2.00 | 2.00 | Not in auction – has chosen to play in PSL and other leagues, skipping IPL 2026. |
| Quinton de Kock | KKR | WK-Batter | 3.60 | 2.00 | Very High – top-order keeper-batter with a long IPL track record. |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | KKR | WK-Batter | 2.00 | 2.00 | High – ultra-aggressive opener; handy for powerplay-heavy gameplans. |
| Spencer Johnson | KKR | Bowler | 2.80 | 2.00 | High – left-arm pace, good new-ball and middle-overs option. |
| Venkatesh Iyer | KKR | All-rounder | 23.75 | 2.00 | Very High – Indian batting all-rounder in the elite ₹2 crore base price group; sure to attract attention. |
| David Miller | LSG | Batter | 7.50 | 1.50 | High – experienced finisher; ideal for teams needing middle-order power. |
| Shamar Joseph | LSG | Bowler | 0.75 | 0.75 | High – raw pace and X-factor, likely to get at least one strong bid. |
| Ravi Bishnoi | LSG | Bowler | 11.00 | — | Very High – Indian wrist-spinner in his prime and now in the ₹2 crore bracket; almost certain to be picked. |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | MI | Bowler | Unsold (2025) | 2.00 | Medium – mystery spin is useful but his overseas slot competition is stiff. |
| Reece Topley | MI | Bowler | 0.75 | 0.75 | High – left-arm new-ball specialist; handy on big grounds. |
| Lizaad Williams | MI | Bowler | 0.75 | 0.75 | Medium – depth option; could come in if teams miss primary targets. |
| Aaron Hardie | PBKS | All-rounder | 1.25 | 1.25 | Medium – skills are solid, but overseas seam all-rounders market is crowded. |
| Glenn Maxwell | PBKS | All-rounder | 4.20 | 2.00 | Not in auction – pulled out of IPL 2026 after injury and workload management, focusing on other T20 leagues. |
| Josh Inglis | PBKS | WK-Batter | 2.60 | 2.00 | High – versatile keeper who can float in the batting order. |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | RR | Bowler | 2.00 | 2.00 | High – left-arm swing at the top; useful in certain conditions. |
| Maheesh Theekshana | RR | Bowler | 4.40 | 2.00 | High – powerplay and middle-overs off-spin; strong match-up option. |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | RR | All-rounder | 5.25 | 2.00 | Very High – elite leg-spinning all-rounder, fits multiple team combinations. |
| Liam Livingstone | RCB | All-rounder | 8.75 | 2.00 | Very High – six-hitting range and part-time spin make him a premium finisher in the ₹2 crore band. |
| Lungisani Ngidi | RCB | Bowler | 1.00 | 1.00 | High – strong hit-the-deck seamer; good backup for pace-heavy attacks. |
| Adam Zampa | SRH | Bowler | 2.40 | 2.00 | High – quality leg-spinner with experience in subcontinental leagues. |
| Wiaan Mulder | SRH | All-rounder | Unsold / TBA | 0.75 | Medium – seam-bowling all-rounder profile has value, but slots are limited. |
2. Players in ₹2 Crore Base Price Bracket (Maximum Reserve Price)
A total of 45 cricketers have listed the maximum reserve price of ₹2 crore for the IPL 2026 auction. Only two Indians – Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi – feature in this elite group, while the rest are some of the biggest overseas names in T20 cricket.
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| India | Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer |
| Afghanistan | Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq |
| Australia | Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith |
| Bangladesh | Mustafizur Rahman |
| England | Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Liam Livingstone, Tymal Mills, Jamie Smith |
| New Zealand | Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Rachin Ravindra |
| South Africa | Gerald Coetzee, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Wiese |
| Sri Lanka | Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana |
| West Indies | Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph |
Among this group, Cameron Green is widely tipped to be one of the biggest auction stories. With his all-round skills, full-season availability, and the vacancy created by Andre Russell’s IPL exit, teams like KKR and CSK are expected to go hard for him.
3. Big Names Missing From IPL 2026 Auction
While the auction pool is massive, some of the biggest headlines are actually about the players who are not part of the IPL 2026 auction list. A number of senior overseas stars have either switched full-time to PSL or taken up different roles:
- Glenn Maxwell – skips IPL 2026 after injury concerns and workload management.
- Faf du Plessis – chooses PSL over IPL, bringing an end to 14 seasons in the league.
- Moeen Ali – also prioritises PSL, opting out of this IPL cycle.
- Andre Russell – released by KKR and moves into a “power coach” role instead of entering the auction.
- David Warner – now a PSL star after going unsold in IPL 2025, continuing away from IPL 2026.
- Kane Williamson – shifted focus to PSL last season and remains outside the IPL auction frame.
These exits underline a new phase where several veteran IPL greats are choosing either PSL as a second chapter or shifting into mentoring and coaching roles, leaving more space for younger talent and fresh overseas match-winners at the auction table.
4. Indian Players With Strong Return Chances
Beyond the two Indians in the ₹2 crore bracket, there is a deep and competitive domestic pool. Many Indian players released ahead of IPL 2026 will look to revive or boost their IPL careers with fresh opportunities.
| Player | Base Price (₹) | Chance of Return | Reason / Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prithvi Shaw | 75 L | Very High | Attacking opener; still young and fits powerplay-hitting role. |
| Sarfaraz Khan | 75 L | High | Consistent domestic run-scorer; middle-order backup option. |
| Shivam Mavi | 75 L | High | Indian seamer; teams short on local pacers may show interest. |
| Navdeep Saini | 75 L | Medium | Experienced quick; may be used as squad depth. |
| Mayank Agarwal | 1 Cr | High | Proven IPL top-order batter; brings experience and stability. |
| Rahul Tripathi | — | High | Impactful No.3/No.4 option; ideal for aggressive batting line-ups. |
| Deepak Hooda | — | High | Middle-order batter who can bowl off-spin; flexible Indian all-round option. |
| KS Bharat | — | Medium–High | Wicketkeeper-batter; adds depth for teams needing a reliable Indian gloveman. |
| Rahul Chahar | — | High | Indian leg-spinner; handy for teams looking for a local wrist-spin option. |
| Umesh Yadav | 2 Cr | Medium | Senior pacer; leadership and new-ball value. |
| Chetan Sakariya | 75 L | Medium | Left-arm Indian pacer; could attract franchises like CSK or PBKS. |
| Ripal Patel | 30 L | Low–Medium | Lower-order hitter; depth option for finishing roles. |
| Rishi Dhawan | 30 L | Medium | Indian all-rounder with useful medium pace and batting utility. |
Overall Observations
Teams with relatively tighter purses — especially MI, PBKS and GT — are expected to prioritise tactical, role-based picks over headline mega bids. Around 25–30 previously unsold players from IPL 2025 could re-enter the pool alongside fresh domestic talent.
Expect strong demand for top-order anchors and power-hitters, overseas all-rounders, and Indian fast bowlers who can operate effectively at the death.
Spin all-rounders like Sikandar Raza and Michael Bracewell are also likely to be on several teams’ scouting lists given their ability to contribute with both bat and ball in Indian conditions.
Read more: IPL 2026 Trade: Players List
What Makes IPL 2026 Auction Special
- Record Registration: A huge pool of 1,355 players has registered, making this one of the biggest mini-auctions ever.
- Return of Big Names in the 2 Cr Bracket: Overseas stars like Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Gerald Coetzee and Anrich Nortje headline the elite base price list.
- Blockbuster Trade Confirmed:
Sanju Samson to CSK; Jadeja & Sam Curran to RR has completely reshaped two major line-ups. - MI’s Double Steal Before Auction:
Mumbai Indians have completed two high-value trades — Shardul Thakur (₹2 Cr) and Sherfane Rutherford (₹2.6 Cr) — strengthening their Indian pace depth and overseas middle-order. Additionally, Arjun Tendulkar has moved to Lucknow Super Giants as part of roster balancing. - CSK & RR Reset: Both teams begin the auction cycle with a fresh identity after their historic multi-player swap.
- RCB Title Defence: The defending champions are building smartly around a settled core to defend their first-ever IPL trophy.
- Veteran Stars Moving On: Maxwell, du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Russell, Warner and Williamson stepping away from IPL 2026 opens the door for a new generation of overseas match-winners.
Read more: – Most Successful IPL Captains
Conclusion
The IPL 2026 Auction promises a thrilling mix of strategy, comeback stories, and high-stakes bidding. With record registrations, major trades already confirmed, key overseas stars in the ₹2 crore bracket, a long list of released players in the pool, and several teams planning mini-rebuilds, the December auction window could be one of the most dramatic in recent IPL history.
With all franchises having locked in their retention lists by November 15, the countdown to the IPL 2026 mini-auction truly begins — and every move from here on could define the next few seasons of the league.
