The IPL 2026 mini-auction is scheduled for 16 December 2025 at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, and the organising committee has confirmed a shortlist of 350 players who will be eligible for bidding.
Originally, more than 1,300 cricketers had registered, but the final cut was drastically trimmed — only a fraction made the final roster.
The mix is diverse: the list comprises 240 Indian players and 110 overseas talents, offering a broad pool for franchises to choose from depending on their strategic needs.
Only 12 Choose ₹1 Crore Base Price: Mix Of Indians, Afghans And Proteas
Among the entire 350-player roster, a distinct group of 12 players has opted for a base price of ₹1 crore — comprising 2 Indians, 3 Afghans and 5 South Africans (“Proteas”).
This modest base price — lower than the top-tier ₹2 crore bracket — positions them as a potentially “value-for-money” option for franchises looking to make their purse go further, especially for overseas slots or to strengthen bench depth.
A couple of the names in this ₹1-crore bracket draw attention: for example, Quinton de Kock — the South African wicket-keeper batter — appears in the list at that price.
Additionally, among Indians, players such as Akash Deep and Rahul Chahar have reportedly set their base price at ₹1 crore.
The limited number choosing this base price threshold emphasises that these players could become high-value picks if franchises see them as strategic buys — blending performance potential with budget alignment.
Auction Dynamics: Strategy, Opportunity & Risk
The broader auction pool is dominated by a high-value tier of players who have opted for the top base price of ₹2 crore, mostly international stars and a couple of Indians.
Against that backdrop, the 12-player ₹1-crore group stands out as a more budget-sensible — yet still competitive — batch. For teams with limited remaining purse or limited overseas slots, these players offer a balance of potential and cost-efficiency.
Given there are only 77 slots available across franchises, competition will likely intensify — and players in this mid-tier bracket may end up seeing more aggressive bidding than their base price suggests.
For franchises, especially those juggling purse constraints, overseas quotas, and squad balance, this small but select group could offer a sweet spot: reasonable price, decent skill-set, and flexibility.
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