IPL 2026 LIVE Updates: Every detail you need to know before the auction starts
The IPL 2026 auction, set for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, promises intense bidding as 10 franchises compete for 77 slots available. Here is every detail you need to know before the auction.
Last Updated: 02.29 PM, Dec 16, 2025
The stage is set for one of the most eagerly awaited days in the cricket calendar as the IPL 2026 auction gets underway in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. The mini-auction will see 10 franchises battle for 77 available slots, with a combined purse of ₹237.55 crore to spend, as they fine-tune their squads ahead of the new season scheduled for late March 2026.
Date, time and venue
The IPL 2026 auction will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, marking another overseas chapter in the league’s off-field spectacle.
Proceedings are set to start at 2:30 PM IST on December 16, with the event expected to run through the evening as teams navigate intense bidding wars for both Indian and overseas stars.
Where to watch and follow live
Cricket fans in India can watch the IPL 2026 auction on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium.
Auction format and player pool
This is a mini-auction, not a full mega reboot, meaning teams have retained a large core and will use today to plug gaps rather than rebuild from scratch.
Initially, 350 players (240 Indian and 110 overseas) were shortlisted, but a late BCCI update has expanded the list to 369 after adding 13 Indian and six overseas names, giving franchises more options at the last moment.
A maximum squad size of 25 per team is allowed, and across all 10 franchises, there are 77 slots to be filled, including several overseas positions.
Expect aggressive bidding for all-rounders, death bowlers and form Indian domestic performers, especially with several new entrants added just days before the auction.
Team purse and key numbers
Collectively, the 10 teams will spend from a total available purse of ₹237.55 crore, with each franchise working within its own remaining budget after retentions and trades.
Kolkata Knight Riders enter the auction with the biggest wallet, reportedly around ₹64.3 crore and 13 slots (including up to six overseas players) to fill, making them one of the major disruptors to watch.
Chennai Super Kings follow with roughly ₹43.4 crore and nine spots open, while some sides, like Mumbai Indians, have far less to spend – MI are believed to have only about ₹2.75 crore left after retaining and trading in 20 players.
Overall, most franchises have between 6 and 13 vacancies, meaning plenty of mid- and lower-order names, Indian quicks and spin-bowling all-rounders are likely to be in high demand.
Big talking points and new additions
The late BCCI tweak to the list, pushing the total to 369, is a major storyline heading into the auction.
Among the 13 newly added Indian players are domestic standouts such as Manishankar Mura Singh, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Virat Singh, Tanmay Agarwal and others who have impressed in recent domestic seasons and now have a shot at IPL contracts.
On the overseas side, several in-form T20 specialists have also been added, potentially altering strategies for sides still hunting for a power-hitter, a mystery spinner or a specialist finisher.
Meanwhile, a host of established IPL names, including high-profile all-rounders and power batters, are expected to trigger bidding wars, especially from teams with large purses and multiple open slots.
What each team is looking for
Most franchises arrive with a settled core but specific shopping lists.
Some, like Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, are eyeing specialist wrist-spinners and backup finishers, while others, such as KKR and CSK, have the flexibility to go big on marquee players if the right name comes up.
The balance between banking on proven international stars and backing fresh domestic talent will shape how the auction unfolds for each team.