The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially confirmed the date and location for the next Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. The event is scheduled to take place on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This official confirmation follows Sports Tak's reports validating the prior speculation regarding the date and the overseas venue.
IPL 2026 auction to be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16
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All 10 franchises announce retentions list
The retention window for the IPL 2026 season officially closed on November 15, 2025, with all 10 franchises confirming their final squad lists ahead of the upcoming auction. Across the league, a total of 173 players have been retained, which includes 49 overseas players. With a maximum squad size of 25 players permitted per team, the franchises have collectively retained the majority of their core units. Punjab Kings opted for the most stability, retaining 21 players, while Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans followed closely with 20 players each.
For this mini-auction, a substantial combined purse of â‚ą237.55 crore will be available to the ten teams to fill a total of 77 vacant player slots. Heading into the bidding war, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) possess the largest remaining purse, with â‚ą64.3 crore available to fill a maximum of 13 slots, including six overseas spots. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) hold the second-biggest kitty, with â‚ą43.4 crore at their disposal to fill a maximum of nine available slots.
CSK, RR hog limelight on retention day
On the player retention deadline day, both CSK and KKR undertook roster overhauls. CSK released the largest number of players with 11 departures, while KKR closely followed, letting go of eight. KKR’s decisions raised eyebrows, most notably by releasing Andre Russell, who has long been one of their most influential match-winners. Conversely, they chose to retain Ajinkya Rahane, who is likely to continue leading the side should the franchise fail to secure a marquee captaincy candidate during the mini-auction.
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CSK also made surprising cuts, releasing Matheesha Pathirana, their match-winning fast bowler who had earned the trust of MS Dhoni. Furthermore, CSK were heavily involved in a major player trade with Rajasthan Royals (RR), letting go of veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to successfully acquire star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson. Given these large-scale player movements and the significant funds both teams possess, both CSK and KKR are widely expected to engage in several intense bidding wars for top-tier players at the upcoming mini-auction, potentially leading to new auction record prices.