The BCCI has announced that the IPL 2026 Player Auction will be held on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, soon after all ten franchises confirmed their lists of retained and released players. The retention window closed on November 15, 2025, with teams finalising their core squads for the upcoming season.
A total of 173 players, including 49 overseas cricketers, have been retained across franchises. Heading into the auction, teams will collectively have Rs 237.55 crore to fill 77 remaining slots. Punjab Kings have retained the most players with 21, followed by Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, who have held on to 20 players each, keeping their squads largely settled.
Kolkata Knight Riders will enter the auction with the largest purse of Rs 64.3 crore and can fill up to 13 spots, including six overseas positions. Chennai Super Kings hold the second-biggest budget of Rs 43.4 crore and have nine vacancies, positioning both teams strongly for strategic additions at the auction.
