The IPL auction 2026 kicked off on December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, and it didn’t take long for drama to unfold. With 369 players, 77 available slots, and a combined purse of ₹237.55 crore, franchises came prepared with clear strategies — and deep pockets.
From explosive all-rounders to high-value pace options, the auction quickly turned into a battle of planning versus pressure.
💰 Cameron Green Steals the Spotlight
The biggest moment of the day belonged to Cameron Green. The Australian all-rounder attracted fierce bidding before Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) sealed the deal at a massive ₹25.20 crore — the highest bid so far.
The move clearly showed one thing:
👉 Versatile overseas all-rounders remain gold in the IPL, even with strict salary caps.
Teams heavily targeted pace-bowling all-rounders, a category in short supply this season.
🧠 Team Purses Reveal Clear Game Plans
KKR entered the auction with the largest purse — ₹64.30 crore — and 13 slots to fill. With Andre Russell exiting, their focus shifted to rebuilding the top order and adding multi-skill players.
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CSK followed with ₹43.40 crore, aiming for experience and balance
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Mumbai Indians, with just ₹2.75 crore, played it safe, focusing on uncapped Indian talent
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Other purses:
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SRH: ₹25.50 crore
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LSG: ₹22.95 crore
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DC: ₹21.80 crore
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Every bid reflected long-term thinking rather than impulsive buys.
🔥 Players Who Triggered Bidding Wars
Several names kept auction rooms buzzing:
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Venkatesh Iyer and Liam Livingstone sparked intense competition for their all-round abilities
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Jason Holder attracted franchises seeking leadership and experience
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Quinton de Kock saw steady demand as a reliable keeper-batter
Among Indian players, Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan gained renewed attention, with Sarfaraz’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy form boosting his value. Uncapped pacer Ashok Sharma emerged as a smart budget pick.
On the bowling front, Matheesha Pathirana and Jacob Duffy remained hot commodities.
⏱️ Fast Pace, Smart Choices
Conducted by Mallika Sagar from 2:30 PM IST, the auction moved swiftly into accelerated rounds by evening. Early unsold names like Jake Fraser-McGurk set a cautious tone, but as purses shrank, bidding intensity only increased.
One thing was clear — this auction wasn’t about rebuilding, it was about perfecting the final pieces
