The excitement around the IPL 2026 mini auction has shot up as the BCCI finalised the players’ list, trimming down more than 1000 names from the original pool. Only 350 players will now go under the hammer on 16 December in Abu Dhabi, making the cut tighter than ever for domestic and international hopefuls.
A Massive Cut: 1350 Registrations Reduced to 350
More than 1350 players had registered for the IPL 2026 auction, but franchises were asked to shortlist only those they wanted in the final pool. After multiple rounds of filtering, over 1000 players were left out, ending their IPL dreams—at least for this season.
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Interestingly, 25–35 new names have been added to the final list, including some who weren’t part of the initial registration. Among them, one of the biggest surprises is Quinton de Kock, who was missing from the original list but was later added on request from multiple franchises.
A Surprise Return: Quinton de Kock Back in the Mix
According to a Cricbuzz report, De Kock will appear in the third lot of wicketkeeper-batters with a ₹1 crore base price.
KKR had bought him for ₹2 crore in the previous mega auction but released him ahead of 2026.
Sri Lankan Talent Boost Among New Foreign Entrants
A fresh group of Sri Lankan players has entered the fray, adding depth to the overseas pool. New additions include:
- Traveen Mathew
- Binura Fernando
- Kusal Perera
- Dunith Wellalage
Along with them, several other overseas newcomers—like Arab Gul (Afghanistan), Miles Hammond (England) and Akeem Auguste (West Indies)—have also been listed.
Indian Uncapped Players Get Their Shot
A large group of Indian uncapped players has also made it into the final auction list. Some of the notable additions include:
Sadeq Hussain, Vishnu Solanki, Sabir Khan, Brijesh Sharma, Kanishk Chauhan, Aaron George, Zikku Bright, Shrihari Nair, Madhav Bajaj, Shrivats Acharya, Yashraj Punja, Sahil Parkh, Roshan Vaghsare, Yash Dicholkar, Ayyaz Khan, Dhurmil Matkar, Naman Pushpak, Parikshit Valsangkar, Poorav Agarwal, Rishabh Chauhan, Sagar Solanki, Ijaz Sawaria, Aman Shekhawat.
Auction Day Details: What BCCI Has Announced
In its official communication to the franchises, BCCI confirmed:
- Auction Date: 16 December 2026
- Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
- Start Time: 1 PM UAE time (2:30 PM IST)
- Total Players: 350
The auction will begin with capped players, divided by specialization—batsmen, all-rounders, wicketkeeper-batters, fast bowlers and spinners.
Uncapped players will follow in the same sequence.
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Tough Luck for 1000+ Players
More than a thousand players missing out highlights how competitive IPL selection has become. Only a fraction make it to the shortlist, and an even smaller fraction eventually land a contract. The 2026 mini auction is expected to be intense, with several teams reshaping their cores ahead of a crucial season.
