Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi features a modern curved design and spacious entrance plaza, making it one of the UAE’s premier event venues.
The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown as the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) heads towards its mini-auction on 16 December 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Massive Player Register — 1,355 Cricketers in the Hunt
A staggering 1,355 players — both domestic and overseas — have registered their names for the forthcoming auction. This includes 1,062 Indian players and 293 overseas aspirants.
Among the Indians in the mix are well-known names like Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat, Rahul Chahar, Akash Deep, Deepak Hooda, Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw, and Umesh Yadav, among others.
owever, only two Indian players — Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer — have opted into the auction at the maximum base price of ₹2 crore, underlining how selective bids are likely to be.
On the overseas front, big names such as Cameron Green and Steve Smith headline the list of high-profile entrants. The overseas contingent features many marquee players, including those from Australia, England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa and more.
Packed Auction Pool vs. Limited Slots — 77 Slots for 10 Franchises
Despite the massive registration, the auction will offer only 77 slots across 10 franchises — of which just 31 are reserved for overseas players.
After retentions and releases, franchises collectively have around ₹237.55 crore to spend.
This creates a scenario where competition will likely be fierce, and many aspirants — especially overseas players — might miss out despite high base prices.
Notable Absentees — Big Names Opt Out
One of the most significant developments ahead of the auction is that veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has confirmed he will not participate in the 2026 auction, effectively ending his 13-season run in the IPL.
imilarly, former South African captain Faf du Plessis has also opted out of the 2026 auction, choosing to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead.
Their departures mark the end of an era and potentially open up auction opportunities for younger or less-heralded players.
What This Means — Competitive, High-Stakes Auction Ahead
With a massive pool of 1,355 registered players and only 77 slots available, the 2026 mini-auction seems set to be one of the most competitive in recent years. Teams will have to strategize carefully, balancing base price demands, overseas slot limits, and role requirements.
For fans and franchises alike, the presence of star overseas players — along with top Indian talent — and the absence of veteran stalwarts like Maxwell and du Plessis increases unpredictability. The auction could produce both surprise picks and underdog stories.
Given that high base prices (₹2 crore) don’t guarantee selection, some players — especially overseas ones with questionable recent form or fitness concerns — could miss out entirely.
As 16 December 2025 approaches, attention is firmly on who gets the final nod — and which teams manage to assemble balanced, competitive squads from this deep pool of aspirants.
₹2 Crore Base Price (Highest Bracket)
India
Venkatesh Iyer
Ravi Bishnoi
Australia
Cameron Green
Steve Smith
🇮🇳 Indian Players (Confirmed Registered)
Mayank Agarwal
Prithvi Shaw
Sarfaraz Khan
Umesh Yadav
KS Bharat
Deepak Hooda
Rahul Chahar
Akash Deep
Overseas Players (Confirmed Registered)
Australia
Cameron Green
Steve Smith
England
(Multiple England players registered – official names not all released publicly)
South Africa
(Only confirmed name is Faf du Plessis — but he has opted out)
Sri Lanka / NZ / WI
Many players registered, but names not yet individually released.
hat’s a great list of key players registered for the upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction!
The official full list of all 1,355 registered players has not been publicly released, but here is a detailed breakdown of the prominent names you mentioned, along with their roles and significance in the auction
🇮🇳 India
Player Role Auction Significance & Latest Details Venkatesh Iyer Left-hand Batsman, Right-arm Medium Fast All-rounder One of only two Indian players in the ₹2 crore bracket. He was previously released by KKR despite being a crucial part of their setup (bought for a massive sum in the previous mega-auction). Highly sought after for his opening/middle-order batting and medium-pace bowling. Ravi Bishnoi Right-arm Leg-break Spinner The second Indian player in the ₹2 crore bracket. Released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Known for his quick, deceptive leg-spin and excellent fielding. He has been a prominent wrist-spinner in the Indian T20I setup. 🇦🇺 Australia
Player Role Auction Significance & Latest Details Cameron Green Right-hand Batsman, Right-arm Medium Fast All-rounder The biggest overseas name in the auction. Missed the previous year’s mega-auction due to injury. His ability to bat anywhere in the order and bowl express pace makes him a highly coveted player, with teams like KKR and CSK expected to aggressively bid for him. Steve Smith Right-hand Batsman A veteran top-order batsman, known for his ability to anchor an innings and adapt. His inclusion in the ₹2 crore bracket confirms his status as a high-profile international player, though his role might be more team-specific compared to Green. 🇮🇳 Indian Players (Confirmed Registered)
These players have all registered for the auction and are prominent Indian domestic talents or experienced IPL campaigners looking for a new franchise.
Player Role Previous IPL Context Mayank Agarwal Right-hand Opening Batsman Known for his aggressive batting and has captained a franchise previously. Looking to reignite his form after being released from his former team. Prithvi Shaw Right-hand Opening Batsman Explosive young opener who is often an X-factor. He was released and will be looking for a franchise to give him a consistent run. Sarfaraz Khan Right-hand Batsman Primarily a middle-order batsman, known for his excellent strike rate in the domestic circuit and recent call-ups to the Indian Test side. Expected to attract bids for his power-hitting ability. Umesh Yadav Right-arm Fast Bowler Experienced Indian fast bowler who can take wickets in the Powerplay. He was released and is a dependable option for pace bowling depth. KS Bharat Wicketkeeper-Batsman A solid wicketkeeper and handy middle-order batsman. He offers a good Indian keeping option, especially after his recent inclusion in the Indian Test team. Deepak Hooda Right-hand Batsman, Off-break All-rounder Aggressive middle-order batsman and a useful off-spin option. Released after a period of inconsistent performance but remains a high-potential Indian all-rounder. Rahul Chahar Right-arm Leg-break Spinner A young leg-spinner with IPL and international experience. Known for his ability to bowl quickly and contain runs in the middle overs. Akash Deep Right-arm Fast Bowler A young, promising pace bowler who has been part of the domestic setup and recently earned a call-up to the Indian team. He is an uncapped/recently-capped talent that teams will target for the future. Overseas Players (Confirmed Registered)
While the full list is not public, several other key players from the nations you mentioned have also listed themselves at the ₹2 crore base price, indicating a highly competitive auction pool.
England: Notable names at ₹2 crore include all-rounder Liam Livingstone (released by RCB) and several others like Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, and Ben Duckett.
South Africa: High-profile names in the ₹2 crore bracket include pacer Gerald Coetzee, fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, and power-hitter David Miller.
Faf du Plessis has opted out of the IPL 2026 auction (confirmed in news reports), meaning he will not be available.
Sri Lanka / NZ / WI: The ₹2 crore bracket is filled with stars from these nations, including:
Sri Lanka: Spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, and pacer Matheesha Pathirana.
New Zealand: All-rounders Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, and opener Devon Conway.
West Indies: All-rounder Jason Holder, and fast bowler Alzarri Joseph.
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