IPL 2026 Auction Scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, UAE

By John Pranay (Editor)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction is set to take place on Tuesday, December 16, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The auction will see all 10 teams competing for the best players to strengthen their squads ahead of the next season, scheduled to start in the latter half of March 2026. With a maximum purse of Rs 237.55 crore available, teams are expected to spend heavily to secure top talent.

The IPL 2026 auction is a crucial event for the 10 teams competing in the league. The teams have been preparing for the auction by releasing players and trading during the trade window. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have the maximum purse, with Rs 64.3 crore and Rs 43.4 crore, respectively. Other teams, such as Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants, and Punjab Kings, have significant gaps to fill in their squads.

• December 16, 2025: IPL 2026 auction takes place in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

• March 2026: IPL 2026 season scheduled to start.

• 2023 and 2024: Previous IPL auctions held in Dubai and Jeddah, respectively.

The IPL 2026 auction will see several key players up for grabs, including Cameron Green, Venkatesh Iyer, Liam Livingstone, and Ravi Bishnoi. Teams will also be looking to secure uncapped talent, with a focus on Indian players. The auction will be closely watched by fans and analysts, who will be eager to see which teams make the most strategic moves.

The IPL 2026 auction will be a crucial event for the teams competing in the league. The teams will need to make strategic decisions about which players to bid on and how to manage their purse. The auction will also provide an opportunity for teams to strengthen their squads and prepare for the upcoming season.

The IPL 2026 auction marks a significant shift in the league's dynamics, with teams now having more control over their purse and player selection. This change is likely to lead to more strategic bidding and a greater emphasis on team-building. Crucially, this overlooks the potential for a more unpredictable auction, where teams may be forced to make tough decisions about which players to bid on. This suggests that the IPL 2026 season will be shaped by the strategic decisions made at the auction, rather than just the talent on display.

Assessment: Bullish.

1. IPL 2026 Auction live streaming: Date, time, venue, purse left, where to watch - all you need to know — https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/ipl-auction-2026-time-date-venue-live-streaming-13959599.html

2. IPL Auction 2026: What do Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings need? — https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ipl-auction-2026-delhi-gujarat-lucknow-punjab-targets-key-players-10419851/

3. IPL Auction 2026: What do Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, RR and SRH need? — https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ipl-auction-2026-targets-mumbai-indians-rcb-rr-srh-key-players-10419838/

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.