The IPL 2026 mini-auction is set for tomorrow, December 16, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, drawing excitement from cricket fans worldwide.
A total of 350 players, including 240 Indians and 110 overseas stars, will go under the hammer after BCCI shortlisted them from 1,390 registrants based on franchise feedback.
LThis comes after teams retained 173 players, leaving 77 slots to fill across the ten franchises with a combined purse of ₹237.55 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders hold the biggest war chest at ₹64.3 crore and 13 slots, including 6 overseas, positioning them for aggressive bidding. Chennai Super Kings follow with ₹43.4 crore for 9 spots and 4 overseas allowances, while Lucknow Super Giants have ₹22.95 crore for 6 slots.
Mumbai Indians face a tight squeeze with just ₹2.75 crore remaining for 5 slots and only 1 overseas spot, limiting their options significantly.
The player pool features uncapped talents like 224 Indians and 14 internationals, alongside big names such as Quinton de Kock, Prithvi Shaw, and Venkatesh Iyer, with base prices ranging up to ₹2 crore for top stars.
All-rounder Cameron Green could spark a bidding war exceeding ₹25 crore, as teams aim to complete squads capped at 25 players with a maximum of 8 overseas.
Punjab Kings, having retained the most at 21 players, need just 4 more, highlighting strategic differences among franchises like Delhi Capitals (8 slots, 5 overseas) and Gujarat Titans (5 slots, 4 overseas).