The countdown has officially begun for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, which will be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. All ten franchises are preparing for an intense one-day bidding event as they look to finalise their squads for the upcoming season. With retention lists already locked in, the focus has now shifted to auction-room strategies and smart spending.
Among the teams, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head into the auction with the largest available purse, while Mumbai Indians (MI) find themselves with the smallest budget, setting up an intriguing contrast ahead of the marquee event.
As teams make final preparations, the Abu Dhabi auction is expected to draw significant attention due to the varied purse sizes and the limited number of slots available across franchises.
The combined purse of all ten IPL teams stands at ₹237.55 crore, underlining the scale of investment expected at the auction. Franchises will compete to fill up to 77 available slots, of which 31 are reserved for overseas players.
Maximum squad size: 25 players
Minimum squad size: 18 players
Maximum overseas players per squad: 8
With limited slots and capped squad sizes, teams are expected to prioritise specific roles and balance domestic depth with overseas firepower.
KKR enter the auction in the strongest position with a purse of ₹64.30 crore. They need to fill 13 slots, including six overseas positions, giving them significant flexibility to chase marquee players and emerging talent.
Chennai Super Kings follow with a substantial purse of ₹43.40 crore. The five-time champions have nine slots to fill, including four overseas players, allowing them to strengthen key areas while maintaining squad balance.
Sunrisers Hyderabad have ₹25.50 crore remaining and need to fill 10 vacancies, including two overseas slots. Their focus is likely to be on value picks and role-specific players.
Lucknow Super Giants will head into the auction with ₹22.95 crore, aiming to fill six slots, of which four are overseas. Overseas signings could play a crucial role in shaping their final squad.
Delhi Capitals have a purse of ₹21.80 crore available. They need to fill eight positions, including five overseas slots, suggesting a strong emphasis on international recruitment.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru enter the auction with ₹16.40 crore and eight slots to fill. Among these, two are overseas positions, indicating a focus on selective reinforcements rather than a major overhaul.
Rajasthan Royals have ₹16.05 crore left to complete their squad. They need to fill nine slots, including one overseas player, making domestic talent acquisition a priority.
Gujarat Titans will look to fill five positions with a purse of ₹12.90 crore. Notably, four of these slots are overseas, making international signings crucial for their auction strategy.
Punjab Kings enter the auction with ₹11.50 crore available. They have four slots remaining, including two overseas positions, offering limited but targeted spending opportunities.
Mumbai Indians have the smallest purse at ₹2.75 crore. The five-time champions need to fill five slots, including one overseas vacancy, meaning they will need to rely heavily on budget buys and smart selections.
With purse sizes ranging from ₹64.30 crore to ₹2.75 crore, the IPL 2026 auction promises a wide range of bidding dynamics. Teams with larger budgets will aggressively pursue top-tier players, while franchises with limited funds will focus on undervalued domestic talent and strategic overseas picks.
As franchises aim to optimise their remaining funds and complete balanced squads, the Abu Dhabi auction is set to play a decisive role in shaping the IPL 2026 season.