Sandy Verma
Tezzbuzz|13-12-2025
NEW DELHI: The countdown is on for the IPL 2026 mini auction, a one day event where all ten franchises will finalize their squads ahead of the new season. After an active trade window and several high profile releases, this auction is expected to play a key role in shaping team strategies.
Here’s the information on date, venue, rules and where each team stands financially:
Date time and venue
The IPL 2026 mini auction will once again be held outside India, continuing the recent trend.
Date: December 16, 2025
Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
Time: Around 2:30 PM IST
Abu Dhabi will host the event as franchise owners and team managements compete to fill remaining gaps in their squads.
Team purse and available slots
| team | Purse remaining (INR crore) | Total slots available | Overseas slots | Domestic slots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 64.30 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 43.40 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25.50 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 22.95 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Delhi Capitals | 21.80 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16.40 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 16.05 | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| Gujarat Titans | 12.90 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Punjab Kings | 11.50 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2.75 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
How many slots are available
A total of 77 slots will be filled at the IPL 2026 mini auction, including 31 overseas spots. Kolkata Knight Riders have the most vacancies with 13 slots, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad with ten.
The auction list was trimmed from 1355 registered players to 359 shortlisted names. Of these, 244 are Indian players and 115 are overseas. Forty players have set their base price at the maximum of INR 2 crore.
Key auction rules
There will be no Right to Match card in the mini auction. Once a player is released, teams can only buy him back through bidding.
The maximum squad size remains 25 players, with up to eight overseas players allowed. The overall salary cap for each team is INR125 crore.
A new rule limits the maximum salary for an overseas player at this auction to INR18 crore. Any bid beyond that amount will go to a BCCI development fund.
Players who pull out after being picked will face a two season ban from the IPL and auctions. This rule was enforced recently, making England batsman Harry Brook ineligible until the 2028 mega auction.
Players to watch
Several big names are set to attract attention, including Cameron Green, Ravi Bishnoi, Devon Conway, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Prithvi Shaw. With many teams holding strong purses, bidding could be intense for proven match winners.
The 2026 mini auction is not just about buying players. It is about smart planning and long term balance. With major teams rebuilding and others fine tuning strong cores, December 16 could prove decisive for the upcoming IPL season.
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