IPL 2026 auction date out, retention deadline set in November
The proceedings have officially moved to the next edition of the Indian Premier League. The IPL 2026 auction is likely to be held around the December 13-15 window this year. With the mega auction concluded in IPL 2025, the 19th edition of the T20 league will follow a mini-auction. Meanwhile, the latest update also states that all franchises must lock in their retentions for the next season before November 15. However, there is still no information on where the IPL 2026 mini-auction will be held.
November 15 is set to be the deadline for the player retentions! 🏏
— OneTurf News (@oneturf_news) October 10, 2025
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Tentative dates for IPL 2026 auction out, CSK and RR anticipated to undergo major revamp
The auction for the upcoming Indian Premier League season is slated for December. According to a report, the IPL 2026 mini-auction is likely to take place around December 15, with December 13-14 being the tentative window for proceedings. While the BCCI has yet to announce a final date, a franchise official reportedly confirmed this timeframe after discussions with the board. It remains to be seen whether the auction will follow the recent trend of being hosted overseas or return to Indian soil this year.
With roughly two months to go before the IPL 2026 auction, franchises now face the crucial task of deciding which players to retain and which to release. Squads must be carefully structured ahead of the upcoming season, as the retention deadline is expected around November 15. The bottom four teams from last season will be particularly focused on restructuring after disappointing performances.
While it is a mini-auction, the IPL 2026 auction is expected to be a fiery event. Franchises like Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals are likely to revamp the majority of their squads after an abysmal season last year. CSK could potentially release Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, Sam Curran, and Devon Conway as they look to inject fresh, impactful talent into their squad for the next season. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, continue to be in the headlines, especially regarding the future of its skipper, Sanju Samson.
The RR captain has been linked with potential trades involving multiple franchises. Adding to the shake-up, Kumar Sangakkara is set to return to Rajasthan Royals to lead the coaching staff following the exit of Rahul Dravid as head coach. As RR’s Director of Cricket since 2021, Sangakkara is expected to fill the coaching void left by Dravid and has already begun planning for IPL 2026. During his tenure as head coach, the Sanju Samson-led Royals made the playoffs twice in four seasons.
