The Indian Premier League 2026 mini auction is set to be one of the most anticipated cricket events of the year as franchises prepare to finalise their squads ahead of the new season. Scheduled for Tuesday December 16 the auction will take place in Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates bringing together team owners officials and fans from around the world. A total of 359 players will go under the hammer after the BCCI shortlisted names from an initial pool of 1390 registered cricketers.
This year’s auction features a strong mix of Indian and overseas talent with 111 international players and over 240 Indian cricketers hoping to secure an IPL contract. All ten franchises will compete for 77 available slots including 31 overseas positions making bidding intense throughout the day. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is expected to attract major interest and could emerge as one of the costliest buys of the auction.
The highest base price in the auction stands at INR 2 crore with 40 players listed in this category. Several well-known names have entered at this price point while others have opted for base prices of INR 1 crore and INR 75 lakh. Among the franchises Kolkata Knight Riders head into the auction with the largest remaining purse while Mumbai Indians have the smallest budget available which could influence bidding strategies significantly.
Cricket fans can follow every bid live through official television broadcasters and digital platforms. The IPL 2026 mini auction will be telecast live on Star Sports Network in India while online streaming will be available on Disney Plus Hotstar ensuring fans can watch the action unfold in real time on mobile desktop or smart TV devices.
