IPL 2026 Auction set for Mid-December, venue likely outside India
The IPL 2026 auction is likely to be held overseas, with Abu Dhabi, Oman, and Qatar under consideration as possible venues. The BCCI is expected to confirm the final venue and mid-December dates before the November 15 deadline for player retentions.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) auction may take place outside India again, with reports that the BCCI is evaluating several options in the Gulf region. While this hasn't been confirmed yet, all ten franchises were informally told they can plan for an auction overseas.
Cricbuzz has reported that Abu Dhabi is the front-runner to host the IPL 2026 auction, but Oman and Qatar are being evaluated as well. If this happens, the 2026 IPL auction will mark three consecutive years of IPL auctions outside India after Dubai in 2023 and Jeddah in 2024.
BCCI Made to Consider an Auction Outside of India
The BCCI once intended for the auction to take place in India this year, although any logistical challenges have led to a reevaluation. The mid-December window is potentially problematic since it falls in the middle of India’s festive and wedding season, which will make it difficult to find a suitable venue. Correspondingly, the Indian board is likely to issue an official announcement prior to November 15 - the date by which all franchises must submit their long-awaited retention and release lists for the 2026 season.
"There seems to be a shift in thinking about the city where the IPL auction will take place and it is now likely to be outside of India. Although the franchises have not been formally notified about the city, they have almost certainly been tipped off about it," the report said.
Proposed Timeline and Deadline for Retention
The auction will generally take place in the second or third week of December with December 13–15 appearing to be the most likely dates. Talks between franchise officials and BCCI representatives have taken place around those dates, but a finalized date will come from the IPL Governing Council soon.
For now, all we know is that November 15 is the deadline for franchises to declare their retained and released players. Most teams will not make too much change, but both Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) could have a big overhaul after not doing well at the bottom.
Sanju Samson’s Future in Focus
Among the major storylines leading up to the retention deadline is the future of Sanju Samson. Reports suggest that the India wicketkeeper-batter has asked the Rajasthan Royals to either release or trade him before the auction. Although he remains contractually bound to the franchise until the end of next season, the Royals are reluctant to keep an unhappy player.
Team owner Manoj Badale has reportedly reached out to several franchises for a possible trade. Chennai Super Kings were said to be interested in acquiring Samson as a potential successor to MS Dhoni, but discussions stalled when CSK declined to part with any key player in return.
Likely Player Releases and Trade Talk
Several notable players could be released ahead of the mini-auction. Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran, and Devon Conway are among the names reportedly on the list. CSK, who recently added INR 9.75 crore to their purse following R. Ashwin’s IPL retirement, are expected to make some big decisions.
Rajasthan Royals may also consider parting ways with a few overseas players, though the return of Kumar Sangakkara as head coach could influence those calls. Meanwhile, players like T. Natarajan, Mitchell Starc, Akash Deep, Mayank Yadav, David Miller, and Venkatesh Iyer could find themselves seeking new franchises.
Cameron Green Set to Attract Big Bids
One player expected to dominate the auction headlines is Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. Having missed the previous auction due to injury, Green’s return has already sparked interest among several teams. With his power-hitting and seam-bowling combination, the 26-year-old could trigger a fierce bidding war.
The Highway Forward
While BCCI is busy finalizing the dates and the venue, franchise think tanks are already in the thick of preparation. Teams are looking at purse balances, analyzing potential trade possibilities, and preparing targeted improvements rather than complete overhauls.
If it is finalized, another overseas IPL auction extends the recent trend of furthering the global reach of the league - and primes the stage for what would surely be another gripping player marketplace ahead of IPL 2026.
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