The IPL 2026 auction will officially start from 2:30 PM IST today in Abu Dhabi, and as expected, it has already delivered drama, strategy, and plenty of talking points.
There are 369 players in the pool, and franchises are carefully balancing star power with squad needs. However, two teams, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, are looking for something different.
KKR enters the auction with a massive purse of ₹64.30 crore, while CSK has ₹43.40 crore to spend, making them the bidders with the most potential of the day.
One of the biggest names in focus is Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. Many expected Green to challenge the record-breaking bids seen in recent seasons, but a key IPL rule has changed the conversation.
Green cannot earn more than ₹18 crore due to the IPL’s “maximum-fee” rule for overseas players at mini-auctions. While franchises may bid higher, his actual salary will remain capped.
On the other hand, Venkatesh Iyer has sent a strong reminder of his value. Just hours before the auction, Iyer played a brilliant inning and scored 70 runs off 43 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Many teams in the IPL 2026 auction are seeking spinners and fast bowlers, and names like Ravi Bishnoi, Rahul Chahar, and Matheesha Pathirana are expected to generate significant interest. As the auction unfolds, the IPL 2026 auction promises twists, surprise buys, and a few millionaires by day’s end.