When Is The IPL 2026 Auction?The IPL is one of the biggest sporting events of the year, and every season, millions of cricket lovers wait eagerly for the action to begin. With the IPL 2026 season already generating excitement, all eyes are now on the upcoming auction.
When Is The IPL 2026 Auction?
As always, “When Is The IPL 2026 Auction?” has become one of the hottest questions before the tournament because fans love discussing team strategies, potential buys, and the overall squad reshuffle. It’s the time when franchises release players, rebuild their teams, and hunt for the best talent available.
Just like every season, the IPL 2026 Auction promises to be even more thrilling. Teams will be entering a fresh cycle, which means new game plans, updated budgets, and a strong mix of domestic and international players. Young talents will hope for their first big break, while experienced names will try to land major contracts.
IPL Auction 2026 Date and Venue
The BCCI has officially announced that the IPL 2026 Auction will take place on 16 December 2025. This time, the event will be held in Abu Dhabi.
The announcement came on November 16, 2025, right after the player retention window for the new season closed.
As mentioned on the Olympics website: “The IPL 2026 auction will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, the Indian Premier League organisers announced on Saturday. This will mark the third straight year that the IPL auction is being conducted outside India, with Dubai playing host in 2024 and Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah taking up the responsibility for the 2025 mega auction.”
It further adds, “The date and venue for the upcoming auction were revealed after the IPL 2026 player retention window closed on Saturday.”
Remaining Purse for Each Team in IPL 2026 Auction
The remaining purse is one of the biggest talking points before every auction. It determines how aggressive a team can be while bidding and how much flexibility they have to rebuild their squad. For the IPL 2026 Auction, a total purse of ₹237.55 crore will be available for 77 player slots.
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Here is the remaining purse for each franchise as per IPL’s announcement:
| Team | Remaining Purse (in crores) |
|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 43.40 |
| Delhi Capitals | 21.80 |
| Gujarat Titans | 12.90 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 64.30 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 22.95 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2.75 |
| Punjab Kings | 11.50 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 16.05 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16.40 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25.50 |
Teams with higher purse amounts can go for aggressive and bold signings, while others will need to be smarter with their picks, focusing on value buys or specific roles they need to fill.
What to Expect at the IPL 2026 Auction
The IPL 2026 Auction is shaping up to be an exciting and strategic mini-auction. Teams like KKR and CSK, who have significantly higher purse amounts left, could go all out with some surprising bids. Meanwhile, other franchises may focus on calculated, well-planned signings.
Here is the purse available with each team after the retention window:
- Chennai Super Kings: Rs. 43.40 crore
- Mumbai Indians: Rs. 2.75 crore
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rs. 16.40 crore
- Kolkata Knight Riders: Rs. 64.30 crore
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Rs. 25.50 crore
- Gujarat Titans: Rs. 12.90 crore
- Rajasthan Royals: Rs. 16.05 crore
- Delhi Capitals: Rs. 21.80 crore
- Lucknow Super Giants: Rs. 22.95 crore
- Punjab Kings: Rs. 11.50 crore
Team-Wise Slots Remaining
Here’s how many slots each team has left before the auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi:
- Chennai Super Kings: 9 (4 overseas)
- Mumbai Indians: 5 (1 overseas)
- Kolkata Knight Riders: 13 (6 overseas)
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 8 (2 overseas)
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: 10 (2 overseas)
- Gujarat Titans: 5 (4 overseas)
- Rajasthan Royals: 9 (1 overseas)
- Lucknow Super Giants: 6 (4 overseas)
- Delhi Capitals: 8 (5 overseas)
- Punjab Kings: 4 (2 overseas)
The stage is set, the strategies are forming, and fans are ready. With big money, big names, and big surprises expected, the IPL 2026 Auction is sure to deliver another unforgettable cricketing showdown.
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