The IPL 2026 auction is almost here and all the teams would be looking to sign the players of their choice, to build competitive teams.
The IPL 2026 auction is just a few hours away and the excitement is palpable. There have been several guesses as to which player could join which franchise, but the situation is completely different when all the team owners get together in the sales floor. As the history of the auction has always been, there are bound to be surprises; Some teams get steal contracts for players, while others end up paying a premium for a player in need.
But talking about the upcoming auction, the real fight will be between KKR and CSK, and who could use the financial power to build a better team and end up in a similar position as PBKS was in before the last auction. As for the other teams, they should wait their turn and just hope that Kolkata and Chennai spare their wishlist players.
Nonetheless, with the IPL auction so close, some questions might still remain unanswered. So, InsideSport answers them all.
When and where will the IPL 2026 auction take place?
The IPL auction for the 2026 edition will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025. Coverage of the event will begin at 1:00 p.m. IST. Meanwhile, it will be broadcast on Star Sports network and live streaming will be available on JioHotstar.
How many players will be put under the hammer?
Of the approximately 1300. players registered for the IPL 2026 auction, only a list of 359 was selected by the franchises. Since this is a mini-auction, teams have already marked their players.
How many slots remain to be filled, per team?
CSK – 9 in total (4 abroad)
CC – 8 in total (5 abroad)
GT – 5 in total (4 abroad)
KKR – 13 in total (6 abroad)
KJV – 6 in total (4 abroad)
MID – 5 in total (1 abroad)
BKS – 4 in the general ranking (2 abroad)
EN – 9 in total (1 abroad)
RCB – 8 in total (2 abroad)
SSR – 10 in total (2 abroad)
What is the remaining purse for all teams?
CSK – 43.40 INR
CC – INR 21.80
GT – 12.90 INR
KKR – INR 64.30
KJV – INR 22.95 cr
MID – 2.75 cr INR
BKS – INR 11.50
EN – INR 16.05 cr
RCB – 16.40 INR
SSR – INR 22.50
What is the maximum and minimum team size?
The maximum team size is 25 players, while the minimum requirement is 18 players for all teams.
Which big names are missing from the IPL auction?
Andre Russell recently announced his retirement. Glenn Maxwell did not register, as did Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis. Former Indian pacer Mohit Sharma has also retired and will not be seen in the auction.
How are mini-auctions different from mega-auctions?
Smaller list: The rules are quite simple. The list is truncated, because the teams have already pre-selected the players after consensus. Only 359 players will be subject to the auction process.
Limited places to fill: Only 77 slots across the team need to be filled. This is the maximum number that will be purchased on Tuesday; it can also be less.
No RTM: In mini-auctions, no RTM is available.
No marquee set: No marquee sets are available in the mini-auction.
Who could be the most expensive player in IPL 2026 auction?
It seems like everyone knows it’s going to be AUS all-around player Cameron Green. Many also predict that he will surpass the previous record for the most expensive player – held by Rishabh Pant (27 Cr) offered by LSG. Among the Indian players, it could be spinner Ravi Bishnoi.
Stars who could make a comeback in the IPL?
Among the Indian players, Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw are expected to make a comeback in the IPL.
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