The IPL 2026 auction is approaching quickly. It’s happening on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This marks the third straight year the auction takes place outside India.
This time it’s a mini-auction with fewer players available. Teams already retained 173 players, including 49 overseas stars. That leaves only 77 slots open across all franchises.
The total money left for the next season is ₹237.55 crore. Teams have already spent over ₹1012 crore in earlier auctions. So budgets are tighter now.
Big Money Still Available
KKR has the biggest wallet going into IPL 2026. They’ve got ₹64.3 crore to fill 13 empty spots. CSK comes second with ₹43.4 crore for 9 positions. Both teams can make serious moves.
Some big swap deals already happened before the auction. Sanju Samson moved to CSK in a blockbuster swap. Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran joined Rajasthan Royals together.
Mumbai Indians grabbed Shardul Thakur from LSG through a cash deal. They also picked up Sherfane Rutherford from GT.
Four Players Teams Want Before IPL 2026
Here’s the latest IPL Trade News – four released players might sign before auction day arrives.
1. Andre Russell
Russell tops everyone’s wishlist right now. KKR released him after 10 years of partnership. CSK looks really interested in bringing the West Indian powerhouse aboard. Russell still hits massive sixes and bowls handy overs. A pre-auction trade makes perfect sense for him.
2. Wanindu Hasaranga
Hasaranga didn’t shine much for Rajasthan Royals last season. But he’s still a quality all-rounder. KKR, CSK, and LSG all want him. His leg-spin could be gold for any team in IPL 2026.
3. Rachin Ravindra
He got released by CSK despite decent performances. KKR’s big budget makes them favourites to grab him. Delhi Capitals are watching closely too. A deal worth ₹5-6 crore seems fair for his talent.
4. Venkatesh Iyer
Venky Iyer earned huge money but didn’t deliver for KKR. They paid him ₹23.75 crore originally. Now he’s available much cheaper. SRH and Rajasthan Royals need middle-order batters badly. Either team could trade for him before IPL 2026 starts.
What Happens Next?
November 15 was the retention deadline for all teams. Now the trade window stays open until auction day. Expect more deals to happen soon. Teams want to secure these four players before bidding wars begin. Next season is shaping up to be absolutely crazy already.
