IPL 2026 Mini-Auction: Your 10-Point Ultimate Guide to 77 Slots & ₹237 Crore War Chest
The stage is set for one of the most strategic days in cricket’s calendar. The IPL 2026 mini-auction kicks off tomorrow, December 16, at 2:30 PM in Abu Dhabi.
With a whopping combined purse of ₹237.55 crore, all ten franchises are ready to battle it out. But here’s the catch: with only 77 vacant slots available, the competition will be fiercer than ever. Here’s your ultimate guide in 10 simple points.
1. The When & Where
The action begins at 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday, December 16, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Unlike the mega-auction, this is a single-day event, meaning fast-paced bidding and quick decisions.
2. Players in the Fray
Out of 1,390 registrations, the BCCI has shortlisted 350 players for the auction. Only these 350 will see their names come up, but with just 77 slots, a large majority will go unsold.
3. Team with Most Vacancies
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the most work to do, with 13 slots to fill—the highest among all teams. On the other end, Punjab Kings (PBKS) have the least, with only 4 vacancies after retaining 21 players.
4. The Money Power
KKR also holds the heaviest purse at ₹64.30 crore, thanks to minimal retentions. Defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have ₹43.40 crore. Mumbai Indians (MI) enter with the smallest purse of just ₹2.75 crore.
5. Retained & Available Slots
Teams retained 173 players, including 45 overseas stars. Since a squad can have 25 players, the 77 vacant slots include 25 for foreign players, meaning only 52 Indian cricketers might find teams.
6. Pre-Auction Trades
The trading window saw some big moves. Sanju Samson moved to CSK from Rajasthan Royals, Ravindra Jadeja went the opposite way to RR, and Mohammed Shami was traded from Sunrisers Hyderabad to Lucknow Super Giants.
7. Player Base Prices
The bidding will start from a base price range of ₹30 lakh to ₹2 crore. A total of 40 players have set their highest base price at ₹2 crore, while 227 enter at the lowest base of ₹30 lakh.
8. The Auction Dynamics
Not every player will get a chance. The first five sets will see 34 names called slowly. The pace will pick up for uncapped players. Later, an “Accelerated Round” will allow teams to nominate players for quick bidding. The auction closes once 77 players are sold.
9. Players to Watch
With many big names absent, focus shifts to youngsters. Australia’s Cameron Green, Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana, India’s Ravi Bishnoi, and England’s Jamie Smith could spark bidding wars. Domestic talents like fast bowler Aaqib Nabi are also in the spotlight.
10. The Record Potential
Mini-auctions have created stunning price tags before. Six players have been bought for over ₹16 crore in past mini-auctions, with stars like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins crossing the ₹20 crore mark. Will 2026 see a new record?
With limited slots and overflowing purses, expect surprises, intense bidding, and smart strategies as teams build their final squads for IPL 2026. Tune in tomorrow to see who wins the auction game.
