So, you're wondering about the madness that is the player bidding war. Honestly, if you’ve been refreshing your feed trying to figure out when is ipl auction, you’ve probably realized by now that the "big day" actually just happened.
The hammer fell. The crores were spent.
The official IPL 2026 mini-auction took place on December 16, 2025.
It wasn't in Mumbai. It wasn't even in India. The BCCI took the whole circus to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This marks the third year in a row that they've hopped across the border to host the event, following stints in Dubai and Jeddah. If you missed the live broadcast at 2:30 PM IST that Tuesday, don't worry—half the internet is still trying to process the numbers that flew around that room.
The Big Paydays: What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of fans think mini-auctions are quiet. They're usually seen as "gap-filling" sessions.
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That was definitely not the case this time.
Cameron Green basically broke the internet. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) shelled out a staggering ₹25.20 crore for him. It's wild because he actually became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the league, surpassing Mitchell Starc’s previous record.
But here is the kicker, and this is the nuanced part: Green won't actually pocket that full amount.
Because of the new BCCI salary cap rules for overseas players, his pay is effectively capped at ₹18 crore. Anything the franchise bids above that? It goes straight into the BCCI’s player development fund. It's a weird, complex system designed to keep the "retention" prices of Indian stars like Virat Kohli or Ruturaj Gaikwad from looking small compared to the auction's runaway overseas bids.
Uncapped Indians Stole the Show
While everyone was looking at the big international names, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) did something that left experts like Krishnamachari Srikkanth completely stunned.
They dropped ₹14.20 crore each on two uncapped players: Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma.
Think about that.
Two guys who haven't even played for India yet are now earning more than many seasoned international captains. It’s a massive gamble on youth. Robin Uthappa mentioned on JioHotstar that this is the clearest sign yet that the MS Dhoni era is hitting its final chapter, with the franchise pivoting hard toward a 10-year future.
When Is IPL Auction and Why the Timing Matters
The timing of the auction—mid-December—is tactical. The BCCI finalized the retention lists by November 15, 2025, giving teams exactly one month to scout the domestic circuit and calculate their remaining purses.
- KKR walked into the room with the biggest war chest: ₹64.3 crore.
- Mumbai Indians (MI) were basically window shopping with only ₹2.75 crore left.
- CSK had a healthy ₹43.4 crore, which explains why they could afford to bully other teams during the uncapped player rounds.
The Mustafizur Rahman Situation
If you’re looking at the team lists now, you might notice something odd with KKR. They originally bought Mustafizur Rahman for ₹9.2 crore.
However, things got complicated fast.
Following political tensions and some really unfortunate violence in Bangladesh back in December, the BCCI actually stepped in. They requested KKR to release him in January 2026. It's a rare move where geopolitics directly forces a roster change just weeks before the season starts. KKR is now looking for a replacement, and the whole Indian tour of Bangladesh is currently on ice.
What Happens Now?
Now that the auction is over, the countdown to the actual cricket begins.
The IPL 2026 season is officially scheduled to run from March 26 to May 31, 2026.
We’re looking at an expanded format with 84 matches. It's going to be a long, grueling summer. If you’re a fan, the next date you need to circle isn't an auction date—it's the opening night in late March.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
- Check the Final Squads: Most teams have already filled their 25-player limit. Go to the official IPL website to see who your team picked up in the "accelerated" round at the end.
- Watch the Trades: The "Post-Auction Trade Window" is currently open. While major moves are rare this late, teams can still swap players until roughly late February (one month before the season starts).
- Update Your Streaming: Remember that the digital home for the IPL has shifted. You'll need access to JioHotstar to catch the games live this year.
The "when" of the auction might be behind us, but the fallout from those 77 sold slots is just starting to settle. Between record-breaking overseas bids and the rise of the "crore-plus" uncapped Indian player, the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most expensive experiments in sporting history.