New Delhi: The stage is set for the IPL 2026 mini auction, which will take place on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, beginning at 2:30 PM IST. With team strategies finalised and limited purses in play, franchises are preparing for a tightly contested auction that could shape the course of the upcoming season.
A total of 369 players will go under the hammer, including several high-profile names such as Cameron Green, Venkatesh Iyer, and Liam Livingstone. However, with only 77 slots available across all teams, competition is expected to be fierce.
369 Players Shortlisted for the Auction
Originally, 1,390 players registered for the IPL 2026 auction. From this pool, 350 players were initially shortlisted. Just ahead of the auction, 19 more players were added, taking the final list to 369.
Among the newly added names is India batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, along with several domestic and international players from across the cricketing world.
Of the 77 players who can be bought:
- A maximum of 31 overseas players can be signed
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) need the most players (13) and also hold the largest purse
Team-wise Player Requirements
| Franchise | Players Needed | Overseas Slots |
| Chennai Super Kings | 9 | 4 |
| Delhi Capitals | 8 | 5 |
| Gujarat Titans | 5 | 4 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 13 | 6 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 6 | 4 |
| Mumbai Indians | 5 | 1 |
| Punjab Kings | 4 | 2 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 9 | 1 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 8 | 2 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 10 | 2 |
Remaining Purse: Who Has the Most Money?
| Team | Purse Remaining (₹ crore) |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 64.30 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 43.40 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25.50 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 22.95 |
| Delhi Capitals | 21.80 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16.40 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 16.05 |
| Gujarat Titans | 12.90 |
| Punjab Kings | 11.50 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2.75 |
KKR clearly dominate the financial landscape of the auction, while Mumbai Indians face the toughest challenge with the smallest purse.
Newly Added Players to the Auction Pool
The 19 players added late to the shortlist include:
Abhimanyu Easwaran (Bengal), Mani Shankar Mura Singh (Tripura), Virandeep Singh (Malaysia), Chama Milind (Hyderabad), KL Shrijith (Karnataka), Ethan Bosch (South Africa), Chris Green (Australia), Swastik Chikara (Uttar Pradesh), Rahul Raj Namala (Uttarakhand), Virat Singh (Jharkhand), Tripuresh Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Kyle Verreynne (South Africa), Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe), Ben Sears (New Zealand), Rajesh Mohanty (Odisha), Swastik Samal (Odisha), Saransh Jain (Madhya Pradesh), Suraj Sangaraju (Andhra), and Tanmay Agarwal (Hyderabad).
No RTM Option in the Mini Auction
Unlike the IPL 2025 auction, franchises will not have access to the Right to Match (RTM) card in the IPL 2026 mini auction. The RTM option is only available during mega auctions and was last seen in use during the Women’s Premier League earlier this year.
All Eyes on the Auction Hammer
With limited budgets, specific team needs, and a crowded player pool, the IPL 2026 mini auction promises high drama and strategic bidding rather than reckless spending. As the auction begins in Abu Dhabi, every bid will count—and a single smart buy could make all the difference in the race for the IPL title.
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