The stage is set for the much awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Mini-AuctionWhich will take place on 16th December at the magnificent Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
IPL 2026 Mini-Auction: Final shortlist of 350 elite cricketers
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has carefully limited the huge registration pool to 1,390 players Final shortlist of 350 cricketers. This curated list strongly favors domestic talent, comprising 240 Indian players along with 110 skilled foreign professionals. This extensive selection process underscores the league’s commitment to discovering and integrating new players.
The franchises will compete aggressively for a total of 77 available slots, including 31 key positions reserved for overseas players, which will ensure a globally competitive roster for the upcoming season. With all the teams collectively retaining 173 players, including 49 overseas stars, the franchises begin the auction with a combined remaining purse of Rs 237.55 crore, indicating readiness for an intense bidding war.
Reason behind Harry Brook’s absence from IPL 2026 mini-auction
A significant shadow over the auction is its absence EnglandExplosive batsman, harry brookWhose name was clearly missing from the final shortlist.
According to the Times of India report, the reason for this is a strict new rule implemented by the BCCI, which has officially barred the 25-year-old from participating in the IPL 2026 auction and any subsequent seasons till 2028. This unprecedented decision was triggered by Brook’s history of last-minute withdrawals from two consecutive seasons, including his withdrawal after being bought out from IPL 2024. Delhi Capitals The action was repeated for Rs 4 crore and after a year.
This pattern caused considerable frustration among the franchises, prompting the BCCI to introduce a regulatory measure aimed at curbing such disruptive practices and ensuring team stability. The updated BCCI regulation clearly states that any player who registers for the auction, is selected, and subsequently makes himself unavailable before the season begins, will face an automatic ban from participating in the tournament and future player auctions for two full seasons.
Brook’s sanction exemplifies the strict enforcement of this new rule, making him the first overseas player to be penalized and effectively ruling him out of the lucrative league until the 2028 mega auction. This move clearly reflects BCCI’s commitment to maintaining the integrity and competitiveness of the IPL by ensuring greater credibility in the players’ commitment.
Also read: IPL 2026 auction: Players with highest base price of Rs 2 crore – Cameron Green to Venkatesh Iyer
IPL 2026 Mini-Auction: Financial dynamics and specific base price
The financial landscape of the auction is dominated by a few major spenders. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Lead the pack with the largest available purse, with a substantial corpus of Rs 64.3 crore, making them ripe for significant investment. He is closely followed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK)Who has the next biggest purse of Rs 43.4 crore.
At the player level, the highest bidding limit of the auction is determined by the 40 players who have placed themselves in the highest base-price bracket of Rs 2 crore. This elite category is typically dominated by international stars, but also features two key Indian players prominently: the dynamic all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer and highly sought after leg spinner Ravi BishnoiWhich will certainly drive the bidding in the first few rounds of the event. The majority of the list is made up of new faces, with 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas names looking to secure their first big league contracts.
