5 lesser-known facts about the IPL auction
The IPL 2026 mini auction will be held on December 16 at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi.
12 Min Read
Ahead of every IPL season, teams enter the auction after completing retentions, scouting domestic talent, and assessing overseas options. Unlike a mega auction, a mini auction, like the upcoming IPL 2026, is mainly about fine-tuning squads and filling voids rather than rebuilding from the start.
The IPL 2026 mini auction will be held on December 16 at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, making it the third consecutive year the auction is hosted outside India. A total of 359 players have been shortlisted from an original list of 1,355, with 77 slots available across teams. Franchises can have a maximum squad size of 25 players, including up to eight overseas players. However, ahead of the auction, there are set of lesser-known aspects that many often overlook.
What is a silent tie-breaker bid in IPL auction?
A silent tie-breaker bid is used when two or more franchises place the same highest bid for a player. Instead of continuing an open verbal bidding war, the BCCI conducts a written tie-break process behind closed doors.
In this system, the tied franchises submit sealed bids without knowing how much the others are providing. The player is awarded to the team that submits the highest written bid. Importantly, the tie-break bid amount is never disclosed publicly. If two or more teams submit the same highest written bid again, only those teams are asked to repeat the process until a clear winner comes out.
What is "Strategic Withdrawal" in IPL Auctions?
Which cities have hosted IPL auctions?
Since 2008, IPL auctions have been hosted across multiple Indian cities and, more recently, overseas venues. Bengaluru has been the most frequent host, while in the last two seasons it has been taken overseas. For IPL 2026, BCCI has once again gone outside the country.
| Year | Host City | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Mumbai | India |
| 2009 | Goa | India |
| 2010 | Mumbai | India |
| 2011 | Bengaluru | India |
| 2012 | Bengaluru | India |
| 2013 | Chennai | India |
| 2014 | Bengaluru | India |
| 2015 | Bengaluru | India |
| 2016 | Mumbai | India |
| 2017 | Bengaluru | India |
| 2018 | Bengaluru | India |
| 2019 | Jaipur | India |
| 2020 | Kolkata | India |
| 2021 | Chennai | India |
| 2022 | Bengaluru | India |
| 2023 | Kochi | India |
| 2024 | Dubai | UAE |
| 2025 | Jeddah | Saudi Arabia |
| 2026 | Abu Dhabi | UAE |
What is the accelerated process in IPL 2026 auction?
The accelerated process is the final, quick phase of the auction designed to clear remaining players quickly. In IPL 2026, this round will begin after the first 70 players have been presented. Before the accelerated round starts, franchises submit a shortlist of unsold players they are still interested in.
Only those shortlisted names are called out. Bidding moves rapidly, with minimal pauses, and if no team raises a paddle immediately, the player is declared unsold. The accelerated process does not alter any rules regarding base price, squad size, or overseas limits; it just speeds up proceedings once teams have largely filled their squads.
How much amount has been spent in each IPL auction?
Over the years, IPL auctions have seen massive financial growth, with each year seeing record bids and contracts being filed.
| Year |
Money spent |
| 2008 | USD 36.43M |
| 2009 | USD 7.65M |
| 2010 | USD 3.65M |
| 2011 | USD 62.775M |
| 2012 | USD 10.995M |
| 2013 | USD 11.885M |
| 2014 | INR 262.6 crore |
| 2015 | INR 87.60 crore |
| 2016 | INR 136 crore |
| 2017 | INR 91 crore |
| 2018 | INR 431 crore |
| 2019 | INR 106.80 crore |
| 2020 | INR 140.30 crore |
| 2021 | INR 145.30 crore |
| 2022 | INR 551.70 crore |
| 2023 | INR 167 crore |
| 2024 | INR 230.45 crore |
| 2025 | INR 639.15 crore |
Who are the country-wise most expensive players in IPL auction history?
The main reason IPL is called a cash-rich league is due to the money spent on players. And each season, one or two players make headlines with their record signings. Currently, India's Rishabh Pant tops the list of most-expensive player in the history of the league.
| Country | Player | Price (in crore) |
| India | Rishab Pant | 27 |
| Australia | Mitchell Starc | 24.75 |
| South Africa | Heinrich Klaasen | 23 |
| New Zealand | Kane Williamson | 14 |
| England | Sam Curran | 18.50 |
| West Indies | Nicholas Pooran | 21 |
| Afghanistan | Rashid Khan | 18 |
| Bangladesh | Mustafizur Rahman | 3.20 |
| Pakistan | Shahid Afridi | 2.71 |
| Sri Lanka | Matheesha Pathirana | 13 |
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