IPL 2026 Auction: Player Trade Rules Explained — How IPL Teams Swap Stars Before the Mini Auction

The buzz of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction has begun. BCCI sources have said that this time too there will be an auction abroad. The auction process may take place in Abu Dhabi on December 15 or 16. It is known that the auction was held in Dubai in 2023 and in Jeddah in 2024. As has been rumored for a few days, captain Sanju Samson is set to leave Rajasthan Royals . Rajasthan is trading him to CSK. In return, Rajasthan will get all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. In this context, let's find out what the player trade rules are in the IPL and how this process will work.

• The IPL trade window (which allows players to be traded) begins a month after the end of a season and continues until the week before the next auction.
• The trade window has two options. One is player for cash (giving a player in exchange for cash). The other is player to player (taking one player for another).
• Teams have to send an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the BCCI for the player they want to acquire. The selling team has 48 hours to respond.
• The player trade process begins only after the player signs a consent form expressing his willingness to join a new team.
• If a new franchise comes forward to pay more than the current price for a player, the amount is shared between the player and the selling team.
• Franchises can trade any number of players. There is no limit to this.
• Players traded by franchises must be fit and ready to play matches.
• If the BCCI finds any irregularities in the player trade, the board has the power to cancel the trade.