IPL 2026 Auction Guide: Date, venue, purse, team slots & all you need to know

Get the full IPL 2026 auction breakdown, from confirmed date, venue, and timing to team purse sizes, remaining slots and how to watch the event live.

IPL trophy/ pic credit: @bcci/x

The IPL 2026 player auction will take place on December 16, 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The auction proceedings are scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM IST, with all ten franchises expected to be present either in person or virtually.

For the second time in recent seasons, the IPL auction is being held overseas, underlining the league’s growing global footprint. The Abu Dhabi venue is expected to host a full day of bidding, with intense competition anticipated for both marquee and value picks.

When and where to watch the IPL 2026 auction?

Cricket fans in India can watch the IPL 2026 mini auction on December 16 from 1 PM onwards online on JioHotstar, via OTTplay Premium.

Also read: When and where to watch IPL 2026 auction live: Date, time, and streaming details

Auction format and rules

The IPL 2026 auction will follow the mini-auction format, meaning franchises will not be building squads from scratch. Instead, teams will only be allowed to fill vacant slots left after the retention deadline, which concluded on November 15, 2025.

As per IPL regulations:

In total, 77 slots are up for grabs across teams, including 31 overseas slots making competition stiff despite the limited numbers.

What is ₹18 crore cap rule? Explained

One of the most crucial regulations governing the IPL auction is the ₹18 crore cap on any single player. Regardless of how much money a franchise has left in its purse, no team can bid more than ₹18 crore for one player.

This rule plays a vital role in maintaining competitive balance. Even franchises with massive budgets cannot go all-in on a single superstar and must instead spread their spending wisely. The cap ensures that teams with smaller purses are not completely priced out during bidding wars.

If the franchises get stuck at one player, then the tie-breaker will happen where the extra amount will go to BCCI, and not the individual player. This rule is made to ensure that all the franchises will get to bid fairly for the cricketers.

Also read: Top 5 players to watch out for in IPL 2026 auction: Big names, big bidding wars expected

Purse Size & Slots Remaining

Kolkata Knight Riders enter the auction with the largest remaining purse of ₹64.3 crore and 13 slots to fill, putting them in a strong position to dominate the bidding. Chennai Super Kings also have a healthy purse of ₹43.4 crore, while SunRisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants have moderate flexibility.

On the other end of the spectrum, Mumbai Indians have just ₹2.75 crore remaining, meaning they will be restricted to bargain buys and uncapped domestic players. Teams like Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans will also need to be cautious with limited budgets and fewer slots.

Purse: KKR INR 64.30 crore (13 slots), CSK INR 43.40 crore (9), SRH INR 25.50 crore (10), LSG INR 22.95 crore (6), DC INR 21.80 crore (8), RCB INR 16.40 crore (8), RR INR 16.05 crore (9), GT INR 12.90 crore (5), PBKS INR 11.50 crore (4), MI INR 2.75 crore (5).

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