The stage is set in Abu Dhabi for ipl 2026 auctionAn event that is important not for building core teams, but for executing surgical, high-impact squad enhancements. This auction is not about overhauling; This is the final fine-tuning before the season begins, where the market is often influenced by demand for specific skills and strategic gaps.
IPL 2026 auction: final deadline
A total of 77 slots, including the highly contested 31 overseas positions, are up for grabs from the shortlisted pool of 359 players. The combined spending power of all ten franchises is ₹237.55 crore, promising an intense bidding war for top-tier Indian talents who are exempt from the new overseas salary cap of ₹18 crore. Franchises with large balance purses, such as KKR and CSKhold a distinct advantage, while minimally funded teams like MI must rely on very sharp scouting to make value buys. This one-day event is a high-octane blend of finance and cricket strategy, designed to complete the final roster puzzle for an extremely competitive IPL season.
IPL 2026 Auction: Franchise-wise remaining purse and slot breakdown
1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Balance purse: ₹64.30 crore (biggest purse)
- Total Slots Remaining: 13 (Highest Vacancies): Foreign Slots Remaining: 6 (Highest Foreign Slots), Indian Slots Remaining: 7
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Balance purse: ₹43.40 crore
- Total Slots Left: 9: Foreign Slots Left: 4, Indian Slots Left: 5
3. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Balance purse: ₹25.50 crore
- Total slots left: 10: Foreign slots left: 2, Indian slots left: 8 (Top Indian slot)
4. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Balance purse: ₹22.95 crore
- Total slots left: 6: Foreign slots left: 4, Indian slots left: 2
5. Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Balance purse: ₹21.80 crore
- Total slots left: 8: Foreign slots left: 5, Indian slots left: 3
6. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
- Balance purse: ₹16.40 crore
- Total slots left: 8: Foreign slots left: 2, Indian slots left: 6
7. Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Balance purse: ₹16.05 crore
- Total slots left: 9: Foreign slots left: 1, Indian slots left: 8
8. Gujarat Titans (GT)
- Balance purse: ₹12.90 crore
- Total Slots Left: 5: Foreign Slots Left: 4, Indian Slots Left: 1
9. Punjab Kings (PBKS)
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Balance purse: ₹11.50 crore
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Total Slots Remaining: 4 (Minimum Vacancies): Foreign Slots Remaining: 2, Indian Slots Remaining: 2
10. Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Balance purse: ₹2.75 crore (smallest purse)
- Total Slots Left: 5: Foreign Slots Left: 1, Indian Slots Left: 4
| Team | Balance purse (₹ crore) | total remaining slots | foreign slots left | indian slots left |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 64.30 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 43.40 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 25.50 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 22.95 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 21.80 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | 16.40 | 8 | 2 | 6 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 16.05 | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 12.90 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 11.50 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 2.75 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
(Note: Maximum team size is 25, with a maximum of 8 overseas players.)
Also read: Top 5 oldest players in IPL 2026 auction
