IPL 2026 auction set for December 16 at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena

Royal Challengers Bangaluru

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Saturday confirmed that the IPL 2025 auction will take place on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The announcement came just hours after all ten franchises released their retention and release lists ahead of the November 15 deadline.

This marks the third occasion the IPL auction will be conducted outside India, each time in West Asia. The 2024 auction was held in Dubai, followed by the two-day 2025 edition in Jeddah. The upcoming 2026 auction, by contrast, will return to a single-day format.

“The player retention window for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season closed on November 15, 2025, with all 10 franchises confirming their retained players ahead of the auction,” the BCCI said in a statement. “Across teams, a total of 173 players have been retained, including 49 overseas players. A combined purse of Rs 237.55 crore will be available at the auction for a total of 77 player slots. With each team allowed to have a maximum squad of 25 players, Punjab Kings have opted to retain 21 players, the most among the 10 franchises, while Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans have retained 20 players each.”

“Heading into the auction, Kolkata Knight Riders will have a purse of Rs 64.3 crore, the largest among the group, to fill a maximum of 13 slots with six overseas spots available. Chennai Super Kings will have the second-biggest kitty of Rs 43.4 crore to fill a maximum of nine available slots,” the statement added.

A total of 173 players, including 49 overseas recruits, have been retained across teams. The auction will feature 77 vacant slots and a combined purse of Rs 237.55 crore available to the franchises.

With each team permitted a maximum squad size of 25, Punjab Kings enter the auction with the deepest roster, having retained 21 players. Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans follow closely with 20 retained players each.