The highly-awaited IPL Auction 2026 is finally here. Now, all eyes are on Abu Dhabi as the Indian Premier League prepares for another blockbuster mini auction. Hence, cricket fans across the UAE and the world are gearing up for a high-stakes bidding war that could reshape combinations ahead of the IPL 2026 Season.
IPL Auction 2026 Date, Time and Venue
The IPL auction for 2026 has been officially confirmed. The one-day mini auction will take place on Tuesday, December 16, at the iconic Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Below are the highlights of the auction event’s date and timing:
- IPL Auction 2026 Date: December 16, 2025
- IPL Auction Time: 2:30 PM IST (1:00 PM UAE time)
- Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
This mini auction marks another major IPL event hosted in the UAE. Moreover, it reinforces the growing status of the country as a global cricket hub.
Total Slots, Players and Budget Overview
The IPL Auction 2026 is going to be conducted to fill 77 empty slots across all 10 IPL franchises, including 31 overseas player positions. Moreover, only 359 players out of 1,390 players have been shortlisted to go under the hammer.
The franchises could collectively spend up to Rs 237.55 crores in this mini auction. This makes the auction one of the financially significant in the recent history of the IPL. Notably, 40 players are placed in the highest base price bracket of Rs. 2 crores to ensure intense competition for marquee names.
Remaining Purse for All IPL Teams
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will enter the auction with the strongest buying power. However, the Mumbai Indians will have limited flexibility. Below are the highlights of the purchasing power of every franchise in this auction:
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Rs 64.3 crore (13 slots)
- Chennai Super Kings: Rs 43.4 crore (9 slots)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Rs 25.5 crore (10 slots)
- Lucknow Super Giants: Rs 22.95 crore (6 slots)
- Delhi Capitals: Rs 21.8 crore (8 slots)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rs 16.4 crore (8 slots)
- Rajasthan Royals: Rs 16.05 crore (9 slots)
- Gujarat Titans: Rs 12.9 crore (5 slots)
- Punjab Kings: Rs 11.5 crore (4 slots)
- Mumbai Indians: Rs 2.75 crore (5 slots)
KKR is expected to heavily influence the direction of bidding due to their massive purse.
Players to Watch in IPL Auction 2026
According to the mock auction, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is widely tipped to be the most expensive buy at the IPL auction 2026. Green was snapped for a staggering Rs. 30.5 crore in the mock auction.
On the other hand, former India batter Robin Uthappa believes Green could realistically fetch around Rs 20 crore in the actual auction, as teams look to balance squad depth. Below are the other big names that could attract a high bid in the auction:
- Liam Livingstone (England)
- Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka)
- Sarfaraz Khan (India)
- Steve Smith, David Miller, Quinton de Kock
Glenn Maxwell and Faf Du Plessis will be notable absentees because they have opted out of the IPL 2026 auction. It means that both stars will be missed in the upcoming IPL season.
Where to Watch IPL Auction 2026 Live
Fans in the UAE and India can follow the event live on the following platforms:
- IPL Auction 2026 Live Streaming: JioHotstar app and website
- IPL Auction 2026 TV Channel: Star Sports Network
It is important to note that the UAE audience might want to use to VPN to catch the live action as Jiohotstar is currently not available in the nation.
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