The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed the date for the upcoming mini-auction ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), revealing that, once again, the auction will take place overseas.
The IPL auction, scheduled for December this year, was previously anticipated, but the precise date has now been officially announced. The mini-auction will be held on 16 December 2025. Earlier reports had suggested that the event would take place in Mumbai; however, that will not be the case. Following a pattern established in recent years, the auction will be hosted outside India.
According to reports from cricket insiders, this year’s auction will be staged in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, the IPL also held its auction in Saudi Arabia in 2024, although that event took place in Dubai. The last major IPL auction was held in Jeddah.
Traditionally, the mini-auction is completed in a single day, and the same is expected this year. Prior to the auction, each franchise must submit a list of retained players to the BCCI by 3 PM on 15 November. Once these lists are received, the BCCI will circulate a comprehensive roster of players eligible for the auction, allowing franchises to finalise their strategies and plan accordingly.
The ‘trade window’ opened immediately after the conclusion of the 2025 IPL season, allowing franchises to buy or exchange players directly with one another. This trading period will continue until one week before the auction, and then reopen after the auction, remaining active until one month prior to the start of the IPL. Players acquired in the mini-auction, however, will not be eligible for further trades.
Several high-profile moves have already been reported. Sanju Samson will move from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran will head in the opposite direction to Rajasthan. Mumbai Indians have already signed Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants and Sharafuddin Rutherford from Gujarat Titans, while Lucknow have secured Arjun Tendulkar from Mumbai. The 2026 IPL is scheduled to take place from 15 March to 31 May, with ten franchises competing for the title and finalising their squads ahead of the season.