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Cricket enthusiasts worldwide are awaiting with bated breath one of the most anticipated events in the Indian Premier League (IPL) calendar, the IPL Auction 2026 Time and Date. The mini auction will pave the way for the 19th season of IPL, as all 10 teams.ish Posted Their Full Squads as they already decided to be in The Tournament. To be there when a harvest of the game’s top players and promising future stars go under the hammer is, in its own way, one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
In this piece, we drown in all the confirmed news and numbers about the IPL Auction 2026 date and time, venue, when live coverage begins, team priorities, purse value, player list prospects, as well as expert views.
IPL Auction 2026 – Official Date & Time
IPL Auction 2026 Time and Date is scheduled, and it will be held on Tuesday, 16 December 2025. It continues the tradition of staging the event a few months before that year’s tournament, which is set to start in March 2026.
- End of Auction: 16 December 2025
- Auction Time: 2:30 PM IST
- Location: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
It is going to be a one-day mini auction, with teams bidding for available slots in their squads after player retentions and trades.
Why December for the IPL Auction 2026?
Holding the auction in December allows franchises more than enough time to plan and structure their preparations for the rescheduled season (read March-May 2026). It also fits within the context of scheduling, travel, and negotiations for marquee players heading into league play.
Venue: Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena
For the third successive year, the IPL Auction 2026 Time and Date is being held outside India as the league continues to extend its international impact. Sebastian Vettel of Aston Martin zeroes in during the Saudi Arabian Grand PrixGetty. The future Abu Dhabi Etihad Arena has already emerged as a favoured location over recent seasons, offering world-class facilities and putting teams and media within easy reach of one another.
The decision to take the league out of Mumbai projects the BCCI’s (Board of Control for Cricket in India) motivations to raise IPL’s global reach and create a neutral venue, strategically connecting other stakeholders across borders.
How to Watch the IPL Auction 2026
Cricket fans won’t miss a moment of the high-stakes auction action. Broadcast and streaming Cricket fanatics will not miss the high-stakes auction action. Broadcast and streaming partners will have wall-to-wall coverage:
- Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (India)
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar / JioCinema (Digital Platform
This enables fans in India to follow the auction in English, Hindi, and various other regional languages across TV and digital (mobile) platforms.
Auction Format & Player Pool
Mini Auction Explained
Unlike mega auctions, which come up once every several years as part of an IPL cycle, a mini auction largely zeroes in on available slots after teams have decided the player retentions, releases, and trades. For 2026:
- Total slots available: 77
- Players shortlisted: Approx. 350 players
- ~240 Indians
- ~110 Overseas players
All franchises will be attempting to combine strength, performance, and squad balance – and manage the purse well.
No Right to Match (RTM) Cards
This year’s IPL Auction 2026 would proceed without the RTM (Right to Match) feature, a rule similar to the one that existed in previous player auctions before allowing franchises to match the highest bid for a player from among their squad, used this year. That creates some randomness and competitive tension in the bid dynamics.
Team Purse & Strategy
With a total kitty of around Rs 237.55 crore available to be spent, franchises are braced for a stiff bidding war. Here’s what the purse and slots look like for each team:
| Franchise | Remaining Purse (Rs crore) | Slots to Fill |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 64.3 | 13 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 43.4 | 9 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 25.5 | 10 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 22.95 | 6 |
| Delhi Capitals | 21.8 | 8 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16.4 | 8 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 16.05 | 9 |
| Gujarat Titans | 12.9 | 5 |
| Punjab Kings | 11.5 | 4 |
| Mumbai Indians | 2.75 | 5 |
With a total kitty of around Rs 237.55 crore available to be spent, franchises are braced for a stiff bidding war. Here’s what the purse and slots look like for each team:
Player Stories & Auction Buzz
Top Picks and Big Celebrations
There are a handful of star players who will capture the attention, particularly huge overseas names and in-form Indians. Predictions include:
- All-rounders and power-hitters to spark bidding wars
- International imports that won’t break the bank
- Domestic uncapped players hoping to go big at the auction
Cameron Green, Venkatesh Iyer, Liam Livingstone several others are names who are at the top of auction lists.
Narrative Behind the Teams
Defending champions and franchise bigwigs such as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be under pressure to form sides that can defend their titles. RCB’s auction table is particularly interesting this year in the wake of a title-winning season.
Read more: IND vs SA T20 / England Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Timeline
What This Means for IPL 2026
- New title-race defining squad makeups
- Big plays late from all 10 teams
- Fierce bidding for Indian and overseas marquee cricketers
- More global IPL with games in the UAE
Since the IPL Auction 2026 will be the dress rehearsal for the 2026 IPL season, player values, team tactics, and fan sentiment will dictate how things play out thereafter.
IPL 2026 Season Snapshot
The auction is the main event today, but it also kicks off one of the most eagerly awaited seasons:
- Window: March 26 to May 31, 2026
- Number of Teams: 10
- Format: Double round robin and playoffs
- Champions: To be decided after the May 2026 final
The IPL just keeps getting bigger with each auction, now a marquee cricketing event.
FAQs – IPL Auction 2026 Time and Date
When will IPL Auction 2026 be held?
The IPL Auction 2026 will take place on the 16th of December, 2025.
What time does the auction begin?
The auction will start at 2.30 pm IST.
Where is the auction venue?
It will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
How many players are shortlisted?
That is in addition to 350 players, including Indian and overseas talent, on the list.
How many slots are available?
The 10 IPL franchises have a total of 77 slots.
If you want to watch the auction live?
In India, live coverage will be available on Star Sports, and the match can also be streamed with a Jio Hotstar / Jio Cinema VIP subscription.
Will there be an RTM card this year?
No, the RTM (Right to Match) card will not be used in this year’s mini auction.
What is each team’s total purse?
All a franchise team has, in terms of spending ability, is Rs 237.55 crore in total.
Final Word
The IPL Auction 2026 time and date have been officially announced earlier today, and everyone is getting stoked about it, as teams get ready to bring in some new faces to their line-ups for what should be an entertaining 2026 season. And with star lots involved and astronomical bids anticipated, plus thousands of fired-up supporters, the auction is set to be bigger and better than ever. We’ll bring you live news and updates as events unfold on 16 December 2025.
