The stage is set for the IPL 2026 Mini-Auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16, with a staggering 1,355 players throwing their hats into the ring. The list, however, features one glaring omission: veteran Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.
The Big Absence: Glenn Maxwell Bows Out
In a significant move, Glenn Maxwell—a star of 13 IPL seasons—announced his decision to skip the auction.
“After many unforgettable seasons in IPL, I’ve decided not to put my name into the auction this year. It’s a big call, and one I make with a lot of gratitude for everything this league has given me,” Maxwell posted on Instagram.
His absence leaves a major hole for franchises seeking a proven, explosive match-winner.
Auction Register Snapshot
- Total Players: 1,355 (1,062 Indians, 293 overseas)
- Capped Players: 212 (including 16 capped Indians)
- Uncapped Players: 1,121
- Associate Players: 22
- Maximum Base Price (₹2 crore): 45 players, including only two Indians—Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer.
Key Indian Names in the Mix
The list of Indian aspirants is headlined by notable names seeking new opportunities or comebacks:
- Mayank Agarwal
- KS Bharat
- Rahul Chahar
- Ravi Bishnoi (₹2 crore base)
- Akash Deep
- Deepak Hooda
- Venkatesh Iyer (₹2 crore base)
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Prithvi Shaw
- Umesh Yadav
International Star Power
The overseas roster is packed with quality, featuring players from 14 nations. Key highlights:
- Australia: Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis.
- England: Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith.
- New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Devon Conway.
- Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana.
- South Africa: Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje.
- West Indies: Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Jason Holder.
- Bangladesh: Shakib Al Hasan (₹1 crore base), Mustafizur Rahman.
Franchise Purse & Slots
After the retention window, franchises have a combined purse of ₹237.55 crore to fill 77 slots (including 31 overseas).
- KKR leads with the fattest purse: ₹64.30 crore.
- CSK follows with ₹43.40 crore.
The player list is not final—franchises have until December 5 to submit their shortlists for the final auction pool, which will be significantly pruned from the initial 1,355.
The Abu Dhabi auction promises high-stakes bidding as teams look to complete their squads for the 2026 season.
