IPL auction 2026 time and date
IPL 2026 Auction: Date, Time, Venue – Everything You Must Know!
The wait is finally over! India’s biggest and most popular cricket league – the Indian Premier League (IPL) – is back with its most exciting event of the year: the IPL Auction 2026!
Today is the day when 10 of the world’s best cricket teams will battle it out in the bidding war to build their dream squads for IPL 2026. Stars like Venkatesh Iyer, Cameron Green, and many more will go under the hammer, and millions of fans are glued to their screens waiting for the drama to unfold.
Your Quick Guide: IPL 2026 Auction Date and Time
Here is the essential information you need to mark on your calendar for this massive event:
| Detail | Confirmed Information |
| IPL Auction Type | Mini-Auction |
| Official Date | Tuesday, December 16, 2025 |
| Start Time (IST) | 2:30 PM (Indian Standard Time) |
| Venue | Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE |
| Total Players in Pool | 350 |
| Total Slots to Fill | 77 |
Get ready for the auctioneer to drop the gavel at 2:30 PM IST! It’s an afternoon start, which means you can settle in for a full day of bidding wars and drama.
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The Big Money Battle: Who Has the Largest Purse?
This is a Mini-Auction, which means teams are mainly filling in gaps, but some teams have huge amounts of money left! A total of ₹237.55 crore is still available for teams to spend.
Here is a look at the teams with the biggest money bags, who will likely drive the bidding wars:
| Team | Remaining Purse (₹ Crores) | Total Slots Available | Overseas Slots |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 64.30 | 13 | 6 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 43.40 | 9 | 4 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 25.50 | 10 | 2 |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 22.95 | 6 | 4 |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 21.80 | 8 | 5 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 16.40 | 8 | 2 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 16.05 | 9 | 1 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 12.90 | 5 | 4 |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 11.50 | 4 | 2 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 2.75 | 5 | 1 |
Key Stat: KKR has the biggest budget by a huge margin! They can easily buy one or two of the most expensive players and still have money left to build a great bench. Every bid KKR makes will be a story to watch!
Star Players to Watch: Who Will Get the Highest Bid?
With only 77 spots available, the 350 players going under the hammer will fight for every crore. The biggest bidding wars will happen for players who are in the highest base price bracket (₹2 Crores).
🇮🇳 Indian Stars Who Will Fetch Big Money
Venkatesh Iyer: Released by KKR, this explosive Indian all-rounder is a rare talent. Teams like CSK or RCB might break the bank to get him. He is easily one of the most wanted Indian names.
Ravi Bishnoi: A top-class spinner and another Indian player in the ₹2 Crore bracket. Every team needs a match-winning spinner, so expect his price to shoot up quickly.
🌎 Overseas Giants in the Pool
Cameron Green (Australia): Expected to be the most expensive player in IPL 2026. He is a genuine all-rounder who can hit massive sixes and bowl fast. Teams will pay any price for a player like him.
Liam Livingstone (England): An explosive middle-order batter. His power-hitting skills in the death overs make him a must-buy for any team looking for finishing power.
- Tim Seifert( New Zealand cricketer ) – Tim Seifert’s explosive 102 off 56 balls in BBL opener is a massive IPL 2026 auction booster—just one day before bids ignite in Abu Dhabi. This underdog Kiwi wicketkeeper-batter, sidelined by injury recently, joins rare air with Aaron Finch as Renegades centurions, smashing 9 fours and 6 sixes. Overseas players like him often fly under radar but deliver fireworks; expect teams like KKR or CSK to splash 8-12 crore on his power-hitting upside amid all-rounder frenzy.ÂÂ
Major Absentees
The auction will also miss a few big names who opted out, including Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis, which further emphasizes the importance of securing strong overseas backups and specialists in this mini-auction.
What’s Different This Year?
This is a Mini-Auction, which means the rules are slightly different from a Mega Auction:
No Right to Match (RTM) Card: Teams cannot use the RTM card to buy back a player they released. This increases the chances of released players finding a new home.
Auctioneer: Mallika Sagar, who successfully managed the WPL auctions, will be in charge of the gavel for the IPL 2026 auction.
📺 How to Watch the IPL 2026 Auction Live
Don’t miss a moment of the action!
| Platform | Details |
| Television | Live broadcast on the Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | Free live stream on the JioHotstar app and website |
Get your popcorn ready! The IPL 2026 auction is set to deliver another dose of high-octane drama, unforgettable bidding wars, and the shaping of future champions.
Set your alarms for 2:30 PM IST on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and watch the drama unfold live from Abu Dhabi