Shreyas Iyer set to attend IPL auction as Ricky Ponting likely to miss out: Report

Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting is set to miss the auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16. A Cricbuzz report says that Ponting, who took over as Punjab Kings (PBKS) coach last year, is unlikely to make the trip because he is committed to commentary duties with the Seven Network for the Ashes 2025. With the third Test starting on December 17 in Adelaide, attending the auction won’t be possible for him.

In his place, PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer is expected to lead the team at the auction. Iyer has been away from the field since injuring himself during the third ODI against Australia on October 25 in Sydney.

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“December 10 was the deadline for franchises to inform the BCCI about the names of their representatives for the auction. It is learnt from BCCI sources that Punjab Kings have included their skipper’s name in the list. As per BCCI and auction guidelines, a maximum of eight team members can be present inside the auction hall, with an additional six permitted outside," Cricbuzz reported.

According to Cricbuzz sources, “Iyer is expected to be in Abu Dhabi, barring any last-minute change of plans."

Earlier, MS Dhoni attended the auction for Chennai Super Kings, and Rishabh Pant also led the Delhi Capitals delegation.

Even though Ponting is set to miss the auction due to the Ashes, Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori will fly to Abu Dhabi for the auction. In the IPL, former New Zealand skipper Vettori is associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad as head coach.

“The Australia assistant coach is understood to have sought permission from Cricket Australia (CA) to travel to Abu Dhabi in the middle of the five-Test series. A CA spokesperson said the arrangement would be similar to last year, when he was permitted to attend the auction in Jeddah in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy," Cricbuzz reported.

IPL Auction Live Streaming details

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pruned down a list which initially had 1350 cricketers registering for the mini auction down to 359 on Tuesday with 244 Indian cricketers and 115 foreign cricketers available in this list who will go under the hammer before the 19th edition of the cash-rich league. The IPL 2026 mini auction will be available LIVE on TV on Star Sports Network in India.