The IPL 2026 auction is likely to be held in the second or third week of December, with December 13-15 emerging as the probable window. Franchise officials, who have spoken to the BCCI authorities, have disclosed to Cricbuzz that discussions are centred on those dates, although the Governing Council of the league is yet to firm up the schedule.
MINI AUCTION
IPL 2026 auction likely around December 15, retention deadline on November 15
Franchises will have to confirm their retention list by November 15. © BCCI
Additionally, there is no indication, at this stage, of the auction being taken overseas, as was the case in the last two editions - first in Dubai (2023) and then in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2024). Franchise sources suggest that it would not be a surprise if the BCCI decides to hold the mini-auction in India itself. Again, that decision is yet to be concretised.
What, however, can be said with a fair degree of certainty is that the retention deadline is November 15. By then, franchises will have to submit the names of the players they plan to release ahead of the auction. There are, though, no indications of a large-scale churn, except perhaps from Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, who finished at the bottom last season.
Among the players reportedly on the release list are Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran, and even Devon Conway from Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The five-time champions already have INR 9.75 crore added to their purse following
