IPL 2026 auction explained: Rules, format, timeline, livestreaming and all you need to know

IPL Auction 2026 explained: Rules, process and key details. (Photo: BCCI)

Teams assemble their teams for the upcoming season at the IPL auction, where they bid on players from a central pool while juggling long-term strategy, positions, and budgets. Combining scouting, analytics, and real-time decision making, it is one of the largest off-field events in cricket.

Every year, teams bid on players to assemble their squads for the forthcoming Indian Premier League season at the IPL auction. Teams use their allocated funds to purchase or keep cricket players from a central pool of players.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in charge of the auction. The event is hosted by an independent auctioneer who also oversees bidding and makes sure the regulations are adhered to.

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By preventing wealthier franchises from purchasing every elite player, the auction mechanism maintains a balance of competition. Teams are forced to manage tight budgets and prioritize duties.

Cricket boards are used by players to register. After franchises submit interest lists, they select a basic pricing and are shortlisted. Not every registered person ends up in the final auction pool.

The lowest price at which a player can be purchased is known as the base price. There are several slabs available, but selection is not assured by a high base price. Value picks at lower categories are frequently preferred by teams due to factors like age profile, job fit, and current form.

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Teams raise paddles to place bids when the auctioneer shouts out a player's name. Bidding rises in predetermined steps. The player gets sold to the only team that is still interested.

What are purse and salary caps?

For an auction cycle, each team is given a specific purse, or budget. They have to assemble a team within this budget, and no player can make more than what they were paid. Additionally, there is a cap on the total size of the squad as well as a cap on foreign players.

Teams choose who to keep and who to release (return to the pool) before to the auction. The purse is calculated using the salary of retained players. Although letting go of a player saves money, there is a chance that the team won't be able to find a suitable successor.

In years when only a portion of the squad is rearranged, mini auctions are held. Even though they are quicker and smaller, they can still result in big deals because teams pursue highly specialized positions (such as wrist spinner, power batter, and death bowler).

Players that fit specialized roles—such as express pace, power hitting, mystery spin, or certain matchup strengths—are frequently paid more by teams. Additionally, uncapped players have a younger age profile and long-term value.

Teams may decide to seek elsewhere if a player's position is saturated in the market, if their recent performance has been erratic, or if their basic price is too high. Decisions are also influenced by age and workload.

In the expedited rounds, those who are unsold once can rejoin the pool. They are still free agents if they are not sold, and if they have an injury during the season, they could be signed as a substitute.

It is streamed on official internet platforms and aired live on sports channels. Additionally, the IPL's official website and social media accounts provide real-time updates.