IPL Auction 2026: The mini-auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 players is scheduled to be held on December 16 (Tuesday) in Abu Dhabi. Before the mini-auction, a rule affecting foreign players is generating considerable discussion. According to the IPL Governing Council rules, no foreign player can earn more than Rs 18 crore in the mini-auction, even if a franchise team bids more than that amount.
This means that even if the bid goes above 18 crore, the foreign player will only receive that amount. This rule was first implemented in the mega auction for IPL 2025. Now it has been applied to the mini-auction as well. The objective is to maintain financial discipline and curb excessively high bids in the mini-auction.
So what happens if teams bid higher anyway?
Let’s say Australian star all-rounder Cameron Green receives a bid of Rs 30 crore, but his IPL salary will only be Rs 18 crore. The remaining Rs 12 crore will go to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Players Welfare Fund. However, the franchise team will have to pay the full amount of Rs 30 crore from their purse.
This rule applies only to foreign players, and Indian players will be entitled to the full bid amount, even if it is more than 18 crore.
In the mega auction for IPL 2025, Rishabh Pant was the most expensive player. Pant was bought by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for Rs 27 crore, and he received his full salary. Pant is the most expensive player in IPL history.
Where to watch IPL 2026 auction live in India:
Live streaming of the IPL 2026 auction will be available on the JioHotstar app and website. The 2026 Indian Premier League player auction will be telecast on the Star Sports Network TV channels in India.