On 16th December 2025, IPL 2026 auction rocked the T20 world at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi. Thus, in this mini-auction, teams used a ₹125 crore purse to fill holes after they had retained 173 core players. Mushtaq and Iqbal traded players to KKR, while LSG went for the kill – with 77 sold from a shortlist of 350, making teams like KKR and LSG into superpowers. Check out the confirmed IPL auction players list 2026, team approaches, and insights.
IPL 2026 Auction Overview
IPL 2026, unlike the mega auctions, introduced a maximum of 25-player squads and flexible retentions. In doing so, teams used RTM cards strategically and targeted pace, spin, and finishers. Total spend: ₹340+ crore. Uncapped Indians thrived in the value buys with an average of ₹ 2- 4 crore.
Key stats at a glance:
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Date/Venue | Dec 16, 2025 / Abu Dhabi |
| Players Sold | 77 (40 Indian, 37 overseas) |
| Highest Bid | ₹25.20 Cr (player TBD) |
| Unsold Stars | 200+ including veterans |
| Top Uncapped | ₹14.2 Cr range |
Confirmed IPL 2026 Retained Players by Team
Teams locked 4-6 players pre-auction. Here’s the official list:
| Team | Key Retentions | Roles | Cost (₹ Cr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI | Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Bumrah, Hardik | Bat/All/Bowl | 65+ |
| CSK | Ruturaj Gaikwad, Jadeja, Dube | Bat/All | 48 |
| RCB | Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar | Bat | 32 |
| KKR | Narine, Russell, Rinku Singh | All/Bat | 37 |
| SRH | Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma | Bat | 28 |
| PBKS | Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep | Bat/Bowl | 45 |
| RR | Samson, Jaiswal, Parag | Bat | 42 |
| DC | Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel | Bat/All | 44 |
| LSG | Pooran, Bishnoi | Bat/Bowl | 32 |
| GT | Gill, Rashid Khan | Bat/Bowl | 34.5 |
Retention Stars: Pant’s leadership and Bumrah’s unmatched economy stood out.
IPL 2026 Auction: Top Buys by Category
Most Expensive Capped Players
- Cameron Green – ₹25.20 Cr (KKR) – All-round powerhouse
- Marco Jansen – ₹20+ Cr – South African quick
- Romario Shepherd – ₹18 Cr – West Indies hitter
Uncapped Indian Sensations
- Kartik Sharma (₹14.2 Cr) – Mystery spinner
- Prashant Veer (₹14.2 Cr) – Pace prospect
- Aniket Verma – Middle-order stability
Overseas Impact Buys
| Player | Team | Price | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockie Ferguson | RCB | ₹10 Cr | Express pace |
| Gerald Coetzee | MI | ₹12 Cr | Raw speed |
| Will Jacks | RR | ₹9 Cr | Explosive bat |
Team-by-Team IPL 2026 Auction Results
Mumbai Indians: Bowling Reinforcement
Purse spent: ₹58 Cr remaining. Key buys: Coetzee, Naman Dhir. Strategy: Death bowling fixed.
CSK: Balance of Spin + Pace
Added Deepak Chahar, Noor Ahmad. Purse left: ₹65 Cr. Focus: Injury-proof attack.
RCB: Pace Revolution
Ferguson + Yash Dayal strengthen the bowling. Purse: ₹70 Cr left. Trophy shot: Genuine.
KKR Power-Packed Middle Order
Green + Venkatesh Iyer reunion. Purse: ₹55 Cr. Strength: Unbeatable finishers.
Remaining Teams Summary:
- LSG: Mayank Yadav (₹5 Cr): 156 kph weapon
- PBKS: Overseas batting depth
- GT: Indian pacers bolstered
- SRH: All-rounder hunt continues
IPL 2026 Purse Tracker & Unsold Gems
| Team | Initial Purse | Spent | Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCB | ₹120 Cr | ₹33 Cr | ₹87 Cr |
| CSK | ₹100 Cr | ₹35 Cr | ₹65 Cr |
| KKR | ₹85 Cr | ₹30 Cr | ₹55 Cr |
Top Unsold: David Warner, Quinton de Kock – eyeing PSL/ Big Bash.
New IPL 2026 Auction Rules Impact
- RTM Upgrade: +1% bid matching
- Uncapped Cap: ₹40L base price
- Squad Flexibility: 8 uncapped allowed
- Accelerated Bidding: Marquee set (15 players)
Conclusion: IPL 2026 Power Rankings
KKR became and possibly already was the clear winners post auction, mixing Cameron Green all-round firepower with their kept finishers for distinctive balance. RCB a near second, as the pace revolution led by Lockie Ferguson and Yash Dayal now finally tackling perennial bowling woes that could end the trophy drought. Jasprit Bumrah’s comeback and Gerald Coetzee’s raw pace make it a podium finish for MI in third while CSK stays true to their experienced core for playoff consistency in fourth. Although strategic uncapped buys like Mayank Yadav give LSG an advantage, their more lucrative bids leave questions over SRH’s conservatism—keep the impact of Green and Patel’s 150kph thunderbolts at IPL 2026 rivalries to be defined.
FAQ’s
Who bought Cameron Green?
KKR for record ₹25.20 Cr.
Highest uncapped buy?
Kartik Sharma, Prashant Veer (₹14.2 Cr)
Which team spent least?
SRH – strategic patience.
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