Abu Dhabi gets ready for another exciting IPL auction on December 16, 2025. The IPL registered players list 2026 shows record numbers this time. Cricketers from 11 different countries registered themselves, hoping to get picked.
Total registered players hit 359 for this auction. That’s cricketers fighting for just 77 available slots. Competition gets tougher every year honestly. Teams already kept 173 stars, including 49 overseas stars before the event.
The remaining pool has 246 Indian cricketers and 113 overseas cricketers. This becomes the third straight auction happening outside India. Franchises bring ₹237.55 crore total to spend on new talent.
England Leads the Overseas Players List
England dominates the overseas count with 21 stars. Australia follows close behind with 20 interested cricketers in the cut. Other countries sent their best ones, hoping for IPL contracts.
Capped players total 114 in the 2026 auction pool. This includes 16 capped Indians and 98 capped overseas stars. Their experience attracts franchises looking for immediate impact.
Uncapped talent makes up the bigger chunk though. India sends 230 uncapped cricketers, while overseas players contribute 15. Young cricketers see IPL as their ticket to stardom.
Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh represents associate nations in this event. His inclusion shows IPL’s growing global reach beyond traditional cricket powers.
| Country | Total Players |
|---|---|
| England | 21 |
| Australia | 20 |
| New Zealand | 16 |
| South Africa | 16 |
| Sri Lanka | 12 |
| Afghanistan | 10 |
| West Indies | 9 |
| Bangladesh | 7 |
| Ireland | 1 |
| Malaysia | 1 |
Big Names and Budget Breakdown
Cameron Green and Steve Smith set high base prices. South African stars David Miller and Quinton de Kock demand premium money. Indian stars Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi also attract attention.
But some big names chose to skip IPL 2026 entirely. Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis won’t participate this year. Their absence opens doors for other cricketers waiting.
Kolkata Knight Riders hold the biggest purse at ₹64.3 crore. They can afford aggressive bidding for top stars. Other teams must spend more carefully with smaller budgets.
What does this IPL Registered Players List 2026 mean
These names reflect cricket’s changing landscape in 2026. Teams balance between experienced stars and fresh talent. Every registered name brings something unique to the auction table.
Franchises study each player’s stats before bidding starts. The 77 slots fill up fast once bidding begins. Some stars go unsold despite their talent, unfortunately.
