The IPL 2026 Auction is shaping up to be absolutely massive this year. A whopping 1,355 players registered their names hoping to get picked by franchises. But here’s the brutal reality – only 77 slots are actually available for grabs.
The Numbers Tell a Crazy Story
This IPL 2026 Auction has drawn players from 14 different countries worldwide. That’s a huge jump compared to previous years’ numbers at similar events. The registration list spans 13 pages, showing just how many cricketers want in.
Out of those 77 available spots, 31 are reserved for overseas stars. The competition will be absolutely cutthroat when bidding starts on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Most players will go home empty-handed unfortunately after the IPL 2026 event.
Indian stars like Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat, Prithvi Shaw, Umesh Yadav and others all registered. Only two Indians – Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer – set their base price at ₹2 crore. That’s the highest base price any Indian cricketer chose for this bidding.
Big International Names in the Mix
Cameron Green, Jamie Smith, Steve Smith, and Jonny Bairstow headline the overseas players list. These guys have proven themselves in T20 cricket across different leagues globally. The IPL 2026 Auction will see franchises fighting hard for such experienced talent.
Cricketers from Malaysia and USA have been included in the list too, which is pretty unusual. This shows the IPL’s growing reach beyond traditional cricket nations like Australia and England. Every cricketer dreams of playing in the next season these days.
The pool includes both established stars and unknown domestic cricketers hoping desperately. Some will become millionaires overnight while most return home disappointed after the bidding.
Money Available for Teams
Franchises have a combined ₹237.55 crore to spend at the IPL 2026 Auction. Kolkata Knight Riders lead with the fattest wallet at ₹64.30 crore available. They can afford to go after multiple big-name stars during bidding.
- Kolkata Knight Riders – ₹ 64.3 CR
- Chennai Super Kings – ₹ 43.4 CR
- Sunrisers Hyderabad – ₹ 25.5 CR
- Lucknow Super Giants – ₹ 22.95 CR
- Delhi Capitals – ₹ 21.8 CR
- Rajasthan Royals – ₹ 16.05 CR
- Royal Challengers Bangalore – ₹ 16.4 CR
- Gujarat Titans – ₹ 12.9 CR
- Punjab Kings – ₹ 11.5 CR
- Mumbai Indians – ₹ 2.75 CR
The December 16 event in Abu Dhabi promises fireworks and surprises throughout. With so many stars chasing so few spots, expect bidding wars. Some unknown registered cricketers might shock everyone with huge price tags unexpectedly.
