The excitement around the IPL 2026 mini auction has reached its peak as the BCCI officially confirmed that a massive 1355 players have registered for the December 16 auction in Abu Dhabi. This year auction is already grabbing headlines – not only because of the high-profile names entering the pool, but also because several global stars have skipped the event entirely.
The auction will be held at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, and all 10 franchises have been asked to submit their final shortlist by 5 December 2025. This time, franchises have 77 total slots available, including 31 overseas spots, making the competition extremely intense.
Major Stars Who Will NOT Be Seen in IPL 2026 Auction
While thousands of players have registered, some world-class cricketers will not participate:
- Glenn Maxwell – Did not register his name despite being released by RCB.
- Andre Russell – Announced retirement from IPL; will join KKR as Power Coach in 2026.
- Faf du Plessis – Withdrew from the auction, choosing to focus on the Pakistan Super League.
These three were among the biggest headline names released before the 2026 season, and their absence has created a major shift in team strategies.
1355 Players in the IPL 2026 Auction Pool
According to tournament sources, the registration list includes top cricketers from Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Afghanistan. Some of the biggest names entering the 2026 mini auction are:
- Cameron Green
- Steve Smith
- Josh Inglis
- Rachin Ravindra
- Gerald Coetzee
- Matheesha Pathirana
- Wanindu Hasaranga
From India, several experienced players have registered, including:
- Mayank Agarwal
- Prithvi Shaw
- KS Bharat
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Rahul Tripathi
- Navdeep Saini
- Deepak Hooda
- Shivam Mavi
Players in ₹2 Crore Base Price Category
This is the highest base-price bracket, and a total of 45 players have listed themselves in it. Surprisingly, only two Indian players are part of this bracket: Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer.
₹2 Crore Base Price Players (Selected Big Names)
| Player Name | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Green | Australia | All-rounder |
| Steve Smith | Australia | Batter |
| Josh Inglis | Australia | WK-Batter |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | All-rounder |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Sri Lanka | Bowler |
| Mahesh Theekshana | Sri Lanka | Bowler |
| David Miller | South Africa | Batter |
| Gerald Coetzee | South Africa | Pacer |
| Enrich Nortje | South Africa | Pacer |
| Liam Livingstone | England | All-rounder |
| Tom Curran | England | All-rounder |
| Ben Duckett | England | Batter |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | Pacer |
| Ravi Bishnoi | India | Spinner |
| Venkatesh Iyer | India | All-rounder |
Who Might Attract the Biggest Bids?
Multiple franchises are reportedly targeting Cameron Green, who remains one of the most dynamic all-rounders in world cricket. Alongside him, Rachin Ravindra, Gerald Coetzee, Hasaranga, and Pathirana could trigger bidding wars because of their T20 impact.
With several teams rebuilding after releasing big names, all-rounders may become the biggest focus of the 2026 auction.
Also see: After RCB, Another Big IPL Team Set to Be Sold
Team Purse Ahead of IPL 2026 Mini Auction
Some teams will enter the auction with huge budgets, giving them an advantage in aggressive bidding.
Top Team Purses for IPL 2026 Auction
| Franchise | Purse Remaining |
|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | ₹64.3 Crore |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | ₹43.4 Crore |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | ₹25.5 Crore |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | ₹22.95 Crore |
KKR, with the highest purse, is expected to rebuild aggressively after releasing big names including Russell.
The IPL 2026 mini auction promises huge competition, surprising twists and possibly record-breaking bids. With 1355 players entering the pool and several teams holding large purses, fans can expect an action-packed auction day on 16 December in Abu Dhabi.
