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The IPL 2026 auction kicks off on December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, marking the third straight year the event shifts abroad after Dubai and Jeddah. This single-day spectacle features 350 players vying for 77 slots across ten franchises, with a combined purse of ₹237.55 crore fuelling intense bidding wars. Cricket enthusiasts worldwide gear up as teams finalize squads’ post-retentions and trades ahead of the 2026 season.
Marquee players for IPL 2026 Auction
Indian stars Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi headline the ₹2 crore group, released by KKR and LSG respectively, offering versatile all-round skills and leg-spin prowess. Overseas firepower dominates with Australia’s Cameron Green, a power-hitting all-rounder previously fetched for ₹17.5 crore, and New Zealand opener Devon Conway, known for anchoring innings.
South Africa’s David Miller brings explosive finishing ability, while Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana, the CSK-released slinger, promises lethal yorkers at 150kph plus. Rachin Ravindra and Liam Livingstone add spin-all-round balance and middle-order muscle from New Zealand and England.
Seventeen players target ₹1 crore, including potential names like Quinton de Kock, alongside at ₹ 75 lakh such as Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. These base prices spark bidding frenzy for 77 slots, blending proven T20 performers with domestic talents.
Also READ: Sanjay Bangar picks IPL 2026 auction’s biggest “steal deal”
Team purses and slots overview
Franchises enter with diverse budgets, led by Kolkata Knight Riders’ massive ₹64.3 crore war chest for 13 slots, enabling aggressive rebuilds after retirement of stars like Andre Russell. Chennai Super Kings hold ₹43.4 crore for nine spots, targeting death bowlers and openers, while Sunrisers Hyderabad wield ₹25.5 crore across ten vacancies. At the lower end, Mumbai Indians scrape by with ₹2.75 crore for five slots, focusing on budget picks post-trades like Shardul Thakur. Here’s the full breakdown:
| Team | Purse Remaining (₹ Cr) | Slots Remaining |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 64.3 | 13 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 43.4 | 9 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25.5 | 10 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 22.95 | 6 |
| Delhi Capitals | 21.8 | 8 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16.4 | 8 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 16.05 | 9 |
| Gujarat Titans | 12.9 | 5 |
| Punjab Kings | 11.5 | 4 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2.75 | 5 |
Broadcast and live-streaming details
- India: Star Sports, JioHotstar
- Australia: Foxtel
- UK: Sky Sports, Now TV
- South Africa: SuperSport
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