The deadline for all 10 IPL franchises to submit their retained and released player lists ahead of the 2027 mini-auction has reportedly been extended by two days to November 17. The auction is scheduled to take place in Goa on December 16.
The original deadline was November 15, coinciding with the fifth One-Day International (ODI) between India and New Zealand. According to reports by Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo, franchises have now been given additional time to finalise their squads ahead of the player auction.
Final retention lists to be followed by player shortlisting
Once the franchises submit their retention and release lists, the Indian Premier League (IPL) will share the registered players’ pool with the teams. The franchises will then identify and shortlist players they wish to target at the auction.
The final auction list, along with the order of player sets, is expected to be circulated to the teams during the week leading up to the December 16 event.
The upcoming auction will be the final mini-auction of the current IPL cycle. A mega auction is scheduled ahead of the 2028 season, marking the beginning of a new phase for the tournament.
Delhi Capitals complete two player trades
Two player trades have already taken place ahead of the 2027 auction, with Delhi Capitals involved in both transactions.
In a significant move, Delhi Capitals have brought back former captain Rishabh Pant from Lucknow Super Giants. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav has moved from Delhi Capitals to Lucknow Super Giants as part of the exchange.
In another trade, Delhi Capitals have sent fast bowler T Natarajan to Sunrisers Hyderabad in exchange for leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari.
These early moves indicate that franchises have begun reshaping their squads well before the auction, with further changes expected once the retention and release lists are submitted.
IPL 2027 season dates yet to be confirmed
While the auction date has been fixed, the schedule for the 2027 IPL season is yet to be officially finalised.
In 2024, when announcing the schedule windows for the 2025, 2026 and 2027 editions, the IPL had earmarked March 14 to May 30 for the 2027 season.
However, following the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting in September 2026, board secretary Devajit Saikia indicated that the tournament could begin around the end of March. The final dates are expected to be announced later.
Mega auction and new media rights cycle ahead
The 2028 mega auction will be a major milestone for the IPL, as it will also coincide with the beginning of the tournament’s next media rights cycle.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to release the tender for the upcoming media rights period.
In 2022, the IPL’s media rights for the 2023-2027 cycle were sold for Rs 48,390.5 crore, equivalent to approximately USD 6.2 billion. The deal placed the tournament among the world’s most valuable sporting properties and underlined its growing commercial influence.
With the December 16 auction approaching, franchises will first have to settle their retention decisions before turning their attention to the available player pool. The 2027 mini-auction will offer the final opportunity for teams to make targeted squad changes before the next mega auction reshapes the competition in 2028.