IPL 2026 Auction: Full Players List, Team Purse, Big Trades, and Expected Mega Bids — All You Need to Know

The IPL 2026 Mini Auction has begun to be one of the most talked-about events in the cricket world and there is already a lot of anticipation and speculation among the fans. After the 2025 season when RCB finally managed to clinch the coveted IPL trophy, the question teams are; How well will they be able to afford to upgrade, change the whole squad, or even just add some players?

The date for the IPL 2026 Mini Auction has officially been announced as December 16, 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi which has become the venue for the auction. The practice of conducting the auction internationally has been followed for 10 franchises who had submitted their player retention lists by November 15 and the entire list of players who were given the release and who had been traded is now public.

Auction Highlights

This year’s auction will be a one-day mini format. There are 10 participating teams with 77 total player slots available, including 31 overseas slots. The combined purse balance across all franchises stands at ₹237.55 crore.

Team Budgets and Strategy Outlook

• Kolkata Knight Riders enter the auction with the largest available purse at ₹64.30 crore, giving them the flexibility to chase multiple marquee signings. Meanwhile, franchises such as Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad have moderate budgets and are likely to focus on strategic, role-based buys.
• Mumbai Indians will have the toughest challenge with just ₹2.75 crore left, meaning they must rely on bargain picks rather than headline-grabbing signings.
• Teams have also kept a close eye on squad balance. Many are prioritising death bowlers, power-hitting middle-order batters and Indian seam-bowling options — roles that remain in high demand.

Major Released Players Entering the Auction Pool

This year’s released list includes several high-impact players and experienced campaigners, signalling the possibility of intense bidding battles. Among the biggest confirmed releases are Andre Russell, Devonte Conway, Matheesha Pathirana, Rachin Ravindra, Quinton de Kock, Venkatesh Iyer, Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone, Jake Fraser-McGurk and David Miller.

Several teams have also made bold releases involving star performers which indicates that fresh squad restructuring is underway.

However, some players have already moved via high-profile trades — including the headline-grabbing swap involving Sanju Samson to CSK and Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals, one of the most talked-about trades in IPL history.

Expected Bidding Trends and Players in Demand

Franchises are expected to enter aggressive bids for:

Young power-hitters

Death-overs specialists

Overseas all-rounders

Wicketkeeper-batters with strike rate consistency

Indian spin and seam options with T20 credentials

Names like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matheesha Pathirana, Quinton de Kock, Venkatesh Iyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Liam Livingstone, and Rachin Ravindra are expected to be among the most discussed players once bidding begins.

Returning International Stars

Some big overseas names who missed previous seasons due to injury, form, or availability issues are expected to return to the auction pool. The notable list includes David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Steve Smith, Daryl Mitchell, Cameron Green, Sikandar Raza and Finn Allen. Their inclusion may significantly shift the bidding strategy for franchises with higher spending capacity.

Indian Talent to Watch

Several domestic players — including Prithvi Shaw, Shivam Mavi, Sarfaraz Khan, Mayank Agarwal, Chetan Sakariya and Umesh Yadav — also stand a strong chance of returning through this year’s auction.

Teams requiring Indian pace and batting depth may consider these players as crucial mid-budget picks.

Why IPL 2026 Auction Stands Out

What makes this auction unique is the combination of blockbuster trades, big-name releases, a deep pool of overseas contenders and multiple teams undergoing partial or complete rebuilding phases. Defending champions RCB will approach their first post-title auction with a more focused core, while MI, CSK and RR have already reshaped their identity through pre-auction trades.

Conclusion

With budgets set, line-ups reshuffled and expectations rising, the IPL 2026 Mini Auction is gearing up to be one of the most unpredictable and strategy-heavy bidding sessions in recent years. Every bid on December 16 could influence not just the next season — but potentially the long-term direction of multiple franchises.

The countdown begins.