“One Auction. One Night. One Mistake Can Cost a Season.”
The IPL 2026 Mini Auction is all set to ignite excitement on December 16, 2025, at the iconic Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, starting 2:30 PM IST. This high-stakes, one-day event could redefine team strategies and fan expectations for the upcoming season.
Out of 1,390 registered players, only 350 have been shortlisted, including 240 Indian and 110 overseas players. With 77 slots to be filled and a massive ₹237.55 crore total purse, franchises are ready for intense bidding wars.
Auction Rules You Must Know
Each IPL team begins with a ₹151 crore base budget, but smart retentions and trades have reshaped the battlefield.
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Kolkata Knight Riders lead the table with ₹64.3 crore and 13 slots, including six overseas spots
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Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, are nearly maxed out with only ₹2.75 crore left
Key rules include:
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One Right-to-Match (RTM) card per team
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Two-part salary system (auction price + ₹7.5 lakh per match)
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Trades allowed until one week before auction day
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Squad size: 18–25 players, max 8 overseas
Fans can catch the action live on Star Sports, JioCinema, and the IPL YouTube channel.
Team Needs & Smart Strategies
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Chennai Super Kings (₹43.4 crore, 9 slots) are hunting quality all-rounders, especially after the surprise Sanju Samson trade
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Punjab Kings (₹11.50 crore, 4 slots) need clever buys—spinners and a game-changing overseas player
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Rajasthan Royals (₹16.05 crore) have room to rebuild, with strong trade buzz around Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran
Recent trade headlines include Shardul Thakur & Sherfane Rutherford to MI, and Arjun Tendulkar joining LSG, adding extra drama before the hammer falls.
Big Names, Bigger Bids
All eyes are on Cameron Green, who could cross ₹25 crore, making him the auction’s hottest property. Other buzzing names include Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith, and Ravi Bishnoi.
With 40 players priced at ₹2 crore base, expect fierce battles for uncapped Indian talents and proven international stars.
Complete breakdown of capped and uncapped players
| Sr. No | Capped/Uncapped players | No. of players |
| 1 | Capped Indians | 16 |
| 2 | Capped Overseas | 96 |
| 3 | Uncapped Indian | 224 |
| 4 | Uncapped overseas | 14 |
| Total | 350 |
A full list of players as per their base price.
| Sr. No | Reserve Price | No. of players |
| 1 | 200 | 40 |
| 2 | 150 | 9 |
| 3 | 125 | 4 |
| 4 | 100 | 17 |
| 5 | 75 | 42 |
| 6 | 50 | 4 |
| 7 | 40 | 7 |
| 8 | 30 | 227 |
| Total | 350 |
Note: Prices in lakhs.