The IPL 2026 auction is generating significant buzz as teams finalize their strategies for the upcoming season. With the retention deadline of November 15, 2025, now passed, all ten franchises have submitted their lists of retained and released players, providing a clear picture of the available talent pool and the purse each team has at its disposal. The mini-auction is scheduled to take place on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi.

Here’s a breakdown of the purse remaining with each of the ten IPL teams:

• Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): ₹64.3 crore. KKR has the largest purse available, having released several players, including Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer. This provides them with substantial flexibility to rebuild their squad under the guidance of their revamped support staff, including head coach Abhishek Nayar, Shane Watson, and Tim Southee. They have 13 slots to fill.

• Chennai Super Kings (CSK): ₹43.4 crore. CSK also enters the auction with a significant purse, having released several players, including Matheesha Pathirana.

• Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): ₹25.5 crore.

• Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): ₹22.9 crore. LSG has a decent amount to spend, having released seven players, including David Miller and Ravi Bishnoi.

• Delhi Capitals (DC): ₹21.8 crore. DC will look to strategically utilize their purse to strengthen their squad.

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): ₹16.4 crore. The defending champions, RCB, have a relatively modest purse after releasing players like Liam Livingstone and Lungi Ngidi.

• Rajasthan Royals (RR): ₹16.05 crore.

• Gujarat Titans (GT): ₹12.9 crore.

• Punjab Kings (PBKS): ₹11.5 crore. PBKS will need to be strategic with their relatively smaller purse, having released players like Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell.

• Mumbai Indians (MI): ₹2.75 crore. MI has the smallest purse, which will require them to be extremely selective and resourceful in their acquisitions.

With the unlimited retention rule in place, teams could retain as many players as they wanted, provided they stayed within the 25-player squad limit and salary cap of ₹151 crore.

Several notable players have been released by their respective franchises and will be available in the auction pool. These include Andre Russell (KKR), Matheesha Pathirana (CSK), Liam Livingstone (RCB), and Ravi Bishnoi (LSG).

The IPL 2026 auction is expected to be a strategic affair, with teams focusing on fine-tuning their squads rather than making wholesale changes. The availability of quality players and the varying purse sizes of the franchises promise an engaging and competitive auction.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had implemented a new rule ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction, which impacts player eligibility for the IPL 2026 auction. According to this rule, players who did not register for the mega-auction are ineligible to participate in the subsequent mini-auctions, including the IPL 2026 auction. Additionally, any player who withdraws from the IPL after being auctioned without a valid reason faces a two-year ban from the league.