The IPL 2026 mini-auction is unique as it focuses on squad fixing rather than building, with franchises aiming to fill specific roles within their budget constraints. The auction will take place on December 16, 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, starting at 2:30 PM IST and will be broadcasted on Star Sports and JisHotstar in India. There are 359 shortlisted players across 42 sets, with 77 total slots available for the 10 franchises, including 31 overseas slots. The auction is structured by role and base price bands, with premium players front-loaded in the bidding process. There will be no Right to Match available during this auction. The base prices range from INR 2 crore to a minimum of INR 30 lakhs, with a focus on various player roles. Each team can have up to 25 players with a maximum of 8 overseas players and a minimum squad size of 18. The team purse sizes and slots remaining vary, with some teams having more flexibility to make impactful decisions during the auction.
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