IPL 2026 Auction Date Revealed! Overseas Venue Finalised- Check Deets

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IPL 2026 Auction: The buzz around the IPL 2026 season is steadily building as all ten franchises gear up for the much-anticipated mini-auction, scheduled to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.

This will mark the third consecutive year the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to conduct the auction outside the country. The previous edition, in 2024, took place in Saudi Arabia, setting a new precedent for the league's growing global reach. This time it will be held at the Ethiad Arena.

The retention window for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season officially closed on November 15, 2025, with all 10 franchises submitting their final lists of players who will stay with the teams ahead of the upcoming mega auction. In total, the franchises have held on to 173 cricketers, including 49 overseas names, as they prepare for another highly competitive season.

Across the league, 77 slots remain open, and the collective auction purse available to teams stands at ₹237.55 crore. With the cap of 25 players per squad, some teams have opted for larger retained groups than others. Punjab Kings have gone in with the heaviest retained core, keeping 21 players, the highest among all sides. Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans follow closely, having retained 20 players each.

When it comes to available purse value, Kolkata Knight Riders enter the auction with the biggest budget-₹64.3 crore-giving them significant flexibility as they look to fill up to 13 remaining spots, including six overseas positions. Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, will arrive with the second-largest purse of ₹43.4 crore, allowing them to strengthen their squad by adding up to nine new players.

With teams retaining strong cores yet keeping enough room for strategic buys, the IPL 2026 auction promises high drama, intense bidding, and major reshuffles across squads.