IPL governing body comes up with new rule ahead of IPL 2026 mini auction: Know all about it

Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction, which is scheduled for tomorrow (December 16), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has set a new rule, which will restrict any overseas player from putting any amount more than INR 18 crores in their pocket. While the bidding amount can be more than INR 18 crores, the new rule will allow the foreign players to get Rs 18 Cr in the bag.

The new rule we are talking about was announced before last year's mega auction. According to the rule, the maximum bidding fee for any overseas player in the IPL 2026 mini auction cannot exceed the previously said amount. This rule will be only applicable if the bid is higher than this number. Rs. 18 crore was the highest slab for franchises retaining players ahead of the 2025 mega auction, and that’s why no overseas player can pocket more than Rs. 18 crore in the IPL 2026 auction.

Now the question is, what will happen if a franchise bids more than Rs 18 Crore for an overseas player? Franchises with enough amount in the purse are allowed to bid over the limit for any foreign players. As per the rules, the amount over the 18 crore bar will be transferred to BCCI's player welfare trust.

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BCCI set new rule ahead of IPL 2026 auction

It is worth noting that his new rule is only applicable for foreign players. Indian players are eligible to get the full amount. Which means if an Indian player gets a bid for more than Rs 18 Crore, then he will be eligible to claim the full amount which he received through the bid in the IPL 2026 auction.

Ahead of the mini auction, there is a lot of hype around multiple foreign players like Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who is known as 'Baby Malinga' for his sling bowling action. Pathirana has the potential to fetch a record amount of money, as the seamer performed impressively for Chennai Super Kings in the previous few IPL seasons.