The final countdown to the biggest off-field event in franchise cricket has begun, as the IPL 2026 Player Mini Auction is scheduled to take place with all ten teams vying for a piece of the remaining prize pool. With a combined purse of approximately ₹237.55 crore to fill just 77 slots, the bidding war is set to be fiercely competitive and strategy-driven. For the third consecutive year, the BCCI has opted for an international venue, underscoring the league’s global stature.
When and Where to Watch the IPL Bidding War
The IPL 2026 Mini Auction is officially scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The proceedings will take place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a venue that has previously hosted major sporting events. Cricket fans in India should tune in sharp, as the auction is slated to begin at 2:30 PM IST (Indian Standard Time), corresponding to 1:00 PM GST local time in the UAE. Viewers across India can catch every intense moment of the bidding battle live on the Star Sports Network channels for television broadcast. For digital viewers, the live streaming will be exclusively available on the JioHotstar App and website, though a subscription will be required. International audiences can follow the action on respective official broadcast partners such as Sky Sports in the UK and Foxtel in Australia.
The Remaining War Chest: Franchise Purse Value Breakdown
The mini-auction is characterized by a significant disparity in the budgets available to the ten teams, reflecting their pre-auction retention and trade strategies. Leading the financial charge with the largest remaining purse is the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who hold a massive ₹64.30 crore to fill 13 available slots, including six overseas positions. This massive budget gives KKR the flexibility to target multiple high-value players and completely overhaul their squad depth. Closely following are the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who possess a healthy ₹43.40 crore to finalize their nine remaining roster spots, four of which are overseas. Their spending will be crucial following the release of key players.
Further down the financial pecking order, teams like the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have ₹25.50 crore to play with, and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) enter with ₹22.95 crore. The Delhi Capitals (DC) will look to strategise with ₹21.80 crore, while the budgets for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at ₹16.40 crore and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at ₹16.05 crore are more moderate. Meanwhile, the Gujarat Titans (GT) have a lean purse of ₹12.90 crore, and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) have the second-lowest funds at ₹11.50 crore but only four slots to fill. At the extreme end, the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), have the least amount remaining with a minimal ₹2.75 crore, forcing them to be hyper-selective, likely focusing solely on smart, low-base-price signings to fill their five available slots.
Key Players and Strategic Focus for Dharmendra Kumhar’s Readers
With only 77 slots available, the competition for marquee players is set to be intense. A total of 40 players have listed themselves at the maximum base price of ₹2 crore. High-profile international all-rounders like Australia’s Cameron Green are expected to spark furious bidding wars, with both KKR and CSK rumored to be keen, given the scarcity of quality pace-bowling all-rounders. Indian players, including all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer and wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, are also listed at the top price and will be major attractions, as their domestic status is invaluable to team balance. The auction promises high drama as teams execute their final strategies to turn their remaining purse into a championship-winning squad for the 2026 season.