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From ₹151 Crore purses to RTM twists: What makes the IPL 2026 Auction so unpredictable?

Prachi Rajan

IPL 2026 Mini Auction (Source: X.com/@yaarkyakaruu)IPL 2026 Mini Auction (Source: X.com/@yaarkyakaruu)

The anticipation for the IPL 2026 mini auction is rising with each passing day. With fans and cricket experts suspecting possible trades, releases, and retentions of players ahead of the upcoming season. However, before the auction takes place, the trade window will give the 10 IPL teams the perfect opportunity to rethink previous decisions, rearrange the current squad, and ruminate on future buys. 

Notably, the mini auction, unlike the mega auction, allows teams with a limited pool of players to choose from. With a smaller budget, teams have the opportunity to either readjust the core, bring replacements, or select backups. 

With the pre-auction trade window and IPL 2026 mini auction right around the corner, let’s take an elaborate look at the change of rules, predicted date and place, anticipated trade players list, and a lot more, so that you stay updated with all the IPL news 2026. 

IPL Auction 2026: Date and Place 

The IPL 2025 auction took place on November 24 and 25, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The two-day event was a mega auction where the 10 franchises drafted players to build their squads for the next three seasons. Talking about the IPL 2026 auction, while an official statement is expected to be released by respective bodies, this year’s mini auction is scheduled to take place on December 15, 2025, in Mumbai. Notably, Delhi is said to be saved as a backup option. 

Further, as reported by OneCricket, the teams are expected to submit their retention and release lists by November 15, making it the first step in the auction process. Once the retention deadline passes, BCCI will finalise the list of registered players and confirm the auction pool. 

IPL Mega Auction VS IPL Mini Auction

Before we go on to look at the IPL 2026 mini auction rules, let’s see how it is different from previous auctions held in the cash-rich tournament.

Right to Match (RTM) Card

In the IPL mega auction, teams can use RTM to retain a released player by matching the highest bid. Notably, if a team retains 6 players, they are left with no RTM card, and in case of 5 retentions, teams are given one RTM card, and 4 retentions give 2 RTM rights. On the other hand, teams cannot use RTM in the Mini Auction.

Retention Rules

In the mega auction, retentions are limited. For example, in IPL 2025, teams could retain up to 6 players (5+1 policy: max 5 capped + 1 uncapped). While there is no fixed limit in the mini auction where teams can retain as many players as they wish, depending on the remaining purse and squad composition.

Player Pool Size & Auction Purse 

Since the player pool size is very large, with most players (including big names) going under the hammer. The auction purse is large, too. For instance, ₹120 crore per team was set in 2025 (increased from ₹100 crore).

In contrast, the purse varies in a mini auction depending on what remains after retentions and previous spending.

Auction Rules: What’s new in IPL 2026? 

The above table should create a clear picture of what are the factors that make mega and mini IPL auctions apart. Now looking at what’s new in IPL 2026 mini auction, updated rules:  

  1. Right to Match (RTM) Cards & Limit: According to RTM rules, teams can buy back their released players by matching the highest bid made by another team. This year, the highest bidder will have one final chance to raise their bid before the RTM card can be exercised. 
  2. Salary cap & Auction purse: Increased to ₹151 crore per franchise for IPL 2026, a significant jump from the previous season’s ₹120 crore. 
  3. Player compensation structure: According to the revamped structure, a player’s pay now includes two components: 1) Auction purse; 2) Incremental performance pay: New match fee of ₹7.5 lakh per player per game. For the first time ever, a separate match fee has been introduced alongside auction salary.

Can we see the IPL auction 2026 live?

The excitement for the Indian Premier League starts well before the start of the tournament. It begins with the player trade window and the auction itself. Considering the same, fans can catch the action as the IPL 2026 Mini Auction will be live-streamed on multiple platforms. Moreover, the event will be streamed live on the official IPL YouTube channel. Hence, everyone can witness the high-action bidding in real-time. 

Stay tuned for more IPL 2026 news, including schedule, retention date, player trades, and much more.