IPL Auction 2026 Live From Abu Dhabi, 360 Players Await Franchise Calls

The IPL 2026 player auction at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, promises fierce bidding as all ten teams compete for 360 players amid limited budgets and global talent.

The Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi will host the IPL Auction 2026 player on December 16, 2025. All ten franchises are expected to be present any in person or digitally, when the auction processes start at 1:00 PM Indian Standard Time. The IPL auction 2026 is being held abroad for the second time in recent seasons highlighting the league's expanding worldwide reach.

The IPL team list has officially announced a shortlist of 359 players who will be put up for auction. However with the late addition of India's uncapped batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, who will bid ₹30 lakh at the auction, the lineup has essentially increased to 360 players.

There are 246 Indian players and 113 international cricket players among the 360 participants in the auction pool. There are 114 players with caps, 230 uncapped Indian players, and 15 uncapped international players in the remaining pool. Out of the huge 1,390 players that had already registered for the auction, a shortlist was selected. Ten countries are represented in the overseas contingent, with Australia having 21 players and England having 22. There are sixteen players each from South Africa and New Zealand, twelve from Sri Lanka, ten from Afghanistan, nine from the West Indies seven from Bangladesh, and one from each of Malaysia and Ireland.

Recently, the IPL Auction 2026 has continued to set new financial standards. Shortly after Shreyas Iyer was acquired by Punjab Kings for 26.75 crore, Lucknow Super Giants signed Rishabh Pant for 27 crore making him the most exclusive player in league history at the IPL 2025 auction. Mitchell Starc, who was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹24.75 crore prior to the IPL team 2024 season, continues to be the most exclusive international player.