A look at the country-wise distribution of players at the IPL 2026 auction

New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction is set to take on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. A total of 1355 players registered for the extravaganza out of which 350 players were shortlisted who will go under the hammer in a glittering ceremony next Tuesday.

Out of the total number of 350 players, Indian players lead the list with as many as 240 participants to go under the hammer. Out if this number, 224 would be uncapped Indian players while 16 would be capped players. In what is expected to  be a cracking day, 350 players would be fighting for 77 slots available.

A total of 350 players has been divided into 238 uncapped and 112 capped players with as many 110 overseas participants. Apart from the Indian players who lead the list, a heavy inclusion of Australian and English players is also seen in the mini-auction.

Country-wise distribution of players

Meanwhile, the maximum base price for the auction remains at Rs 2 crore and out of the total 40 Indian players, only two have been chosen in the top bracket, which is surprising. Venkatesh Iyer, who was bought for a massive price of 23.75 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders before being released, has listed himself at the base price of Rs 2 crore.

Ravi Bishnoi is the other Indian player who has been listed in the Rs 2 crore bracket after he was released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). South Africa’s returned star player Quinton de Kock turned out to be a surprise late-minute entry into the mini-auction and has kept his price at Rs 1 crore. Australia great Steven Smith, who last participated in IPL 2021, has kept his price at Rs 2 crore.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will go into the auction with the biggest purse of over 64 crore while they would be followed by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) which go in with a budget of over Rs 43 crore.