The excitement for the IPL 2026 mini-auction is at its peak as a massive 1,355 players have officially registered. The auction will take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, with franchises looking to fill 77 open squad slots, including 31 overseas positions.
This year list is huge, diverse, and full of interesting stories. From young talents aiming for their IPL breakthrough to big international names hoping for new challenges, the auction pool is deeper than ever.
But the real headlines come from two things:
✔️ The elite ₹2 crore base price group
✔️ The surprising list of big players missing from the auction
Top Highlights of IPL 2026 Auction Players List
1. Huge Participation – 1,355 Players Register
The IPL shared a long list of 1,355 players, including:
- 1,062 Indian players
- 293 overseas players
- Players from 14 countries
- 212 capped, 1,121 uncapped, 22 associate nation players
This makes it one of the largest auction pools in IPL’s history.
2. 45 Players in the ₹2 Crore Base Price Bracket
A total of 45 cricketers have listed the maximum reserve price of ₹2 crore.
Only two Indians appear in this premium category:
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Ravi Bishnoi
The rest include top international stars like Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone, Matheesha Pathirana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje and more.
Table: Full List of Players with ₹2 Crore Base Price
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| India | Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer |
| Afghanistan | Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq |
| Australia | Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith |
| Bangladesh | Mustafizur Rahman |
| England | Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Liam Livingstone, Tymal Mills, Jamie Smith |
| New Zealand | Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Rachin Ravindra |
| South Africa | Gerald Coetzee, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Wiese |
| Sri Lanka | Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana |
| West Indies | Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph |
3. Big Names Missing – Maxwell, Du Plessis, Moeen Ali Withdraw
The most shocking development is the absence of Glenn Maxwell, a veteran of 13 IPL seasons. The Australian star has skipped the auction after a finger fracture and will not participate in IPL 2026.
He is not alone. Other big players have also decided to move away from IPL this year:
Players Missing From IPL 2026 Auction
- Glenn Maxwell – recovering from injury
- Faf du Plessis – chooses PSL over IPL, ending 14 IPL seasons
- Moeen Ali – also chooses PSL, skipping IPL 2026
- Andre Russell – released by KKR and joins as a “power coach”
- David Warner – now a PSL star after going unsold in IPL 2025
- Kane Williamson – also stepped into PSL last season
It’s clear that PSL has become a new second-phase destination for several veteran IPL superstars.
4. Teams Have ₹237.55 Crore to Spend – KKR Leads the Purse Race
After the retention windows closed earlier, the combined money available across all 10 franchises stands at:
Total Purse Available: ₹237.55 crore
Among these, Kolkata Knight Riders hold the biggest remaining budget and are expected to dominate the auction.
Top Team Purses Before Auction
| Team | Purse (₹ Crore) |
|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 64.30 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 43.40 |
| Others | Remaining purse varies |
KKR also have 12 slots to fill, including 6 overseas, making them one of the most active bidders in the auction room.
Also see: BAN vs IRE Dream11 Prediction
5. Auction Strategy: Cameron Green Expected to Steal the Show
Among the ₹2 crore group, Cameron Green is expected to draw the fiercest bidding war.
Reasons:
- Missed last mega auction due to injury
- Great all-round ability
- Excellent overseas availability
- Fits KKR’s requirement after Andre Russell’s retirement
Both KKR and CSK are expected to push hard for him.
6. Indian Talent Pool is Huge and Competitive
Many Indian players released by their teams are looking to make a comeback, including:
- Mayank Agarwal
- Rahul Tripathi
- Prithvi Shaw
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Umesh Yadav
- Deepak Hooda
- KS Bharat
- Rahul Chahar
With only two Indians in the ₹2 crore bracket, this year’s bidding for domestic talent may be more balanced and strategic.
Also see: KL Rahul Captaincy Record in All Formats
The IPL 2026 Auction Players List shows a mix of promise, experience, and changing dynamics. With young stars rising, veteran overseas legends moving to PSL, and a record number of registrations, this year’s auction is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic ever.
Fans can expect intense bidding, surprise picks, and bold squad rebuilding strategies on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.
