IPL 2026 Auction: Official Dates, Retention Rules, and Team Strategy Breakdown

The countdown has begun for one of the most-awaited and anticipated events in cricket, the IPL Auction 2026, which is likely to take place between December 13 and 15, 2025. Every season, this gets bigger and bigger, and it brings unexpected surprises for both players as well as fans. It’s the moment when franchises make strategies to build a strong squad for the contendership of the IPL title.

Whether it's experienced cricketers or young uncapped players, everyone is keenly waiting to see who gets picked and who triggers the biggest bidding war inside the auction room. The auction is not just about money; it’s about smart strategy and perfect team balance. Fans across the world are already sharing their predictions on social media platforms, wondering which cricketers will wear the new franchise jersey this time. The stage is set for one of the biggest cricket leagues in the world, the Indian Premier League 2026 auction. Let's find out all relevant details of this event.

When and Where Will the IPL 2026 Auction Take Place?

The IPL 2026 Auction is likely to be held around the second or third week of December, with December 13-15 emerging as the probable window. While there is no official confirmation yet, there is also no indication, at this point in time, of the auction being taken overseas, as it was in the last two seasons - first in Dubai (2023) and then in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2024). The BCCI might decide to hold the mini-auction in India itself. Again, that decision is yet to be finalised as reported by Cricbuzz.

IPL 2026 Retention Rules

Before the IPL 2026 Auction, teams have a chance to keep some of the best IPL players in their teams. The IPL 2026 player retention process helps franchises maintain their core while allowing others to fill the missing spots. Here are the IPL 2026 player retention rules for this season:

• Franchises can retain most of their core players before the mini auction. Only a few spots are available for bidding. There is no limit on retained players.
• Teams can spend only the remaining purse left after player retentions. Each franchise’s total purse is ₹151 crore.
• Every franchise can have a maximum of 8 overseas players in its full squad.
• In a mini auction, teams may be allowed limited RTM cards to retain their previously released players by matching the highest bid.

Top 5 Highest-Paid Players In IPL 2025 Auction

The player for whom franchises broke their bank, which shows the capabilities of these players, here is the list of the top 5 players of 2025: