Indian Premier League is more than a cricket tournament for fans. Teams have fanbases on social media, who keep on supporting their teams irrespective of their performances. These fans not only supports their team but also comes in huge numbers whenever their team plays.
Attendance in ground and viewership of matches are such example for them.
The upcoming IPL 2026 season is coming soon. On November 15, 2025, all 10 teams told everyone who they are keeping. Now it’s time to talk about IPL auction prediction 2025-26. The big auction is on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. Here at 96.in, you will get to know about expected auction picks of IPL teams, and what teams need.
What Happened With Retentions?
A total of 173 players were kept by their teams, including 49 overseas players. Many big names stayed. Rohit Sharma stays with Mumbai Indians. Virat Kohli stays with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. MS Dhoni stays with Chennai Super Kings. These are the best players in IPL.
Teams and Their Money
Each team gets money to buy new players.
- Kolkata Knight Riders has the most money – 64.3 crore rupees and can buy 13 new players.
- Chennai Super Kings has 43.4 crore rupees for 9 new players.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad has 25.5 crore rupees.
- Teams with less money need to be smart. Mumbai Indians has only 2.75 crore rupees left.
Big Players Released
- Andre Russell was released by Kolkata Knight Riders.
- Glenn Maxwell was released by Punjab Kings.
- Matheesha Pathirana was released by Chennai Super Kings.
These players will go to the auction. Other teams will fight to buy them.
IPL Player Predictions for 2026
Teams make smart plans before auctions. Each team has different needs.
- Kolkata Knight Riders kept only 12 players. This means they want to make big changes. They will buy strong batsmen and fast bowlers.
- Punjab Kings kept 21 players – the most of any team. They will buy only a few new players.
- Rajasthan Royals needs 9 new players.
- Delhi Capitals needs 8 new players.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad needs 13 new players.
Teams need bowlers, batsmen, and all-rounders. If a team has many batsmen but no bowlers, they will buy bowlers first.
The Mini Auction Format
This auction is different from last year.
- In 2025, there was a big mega auction.
- In 2026, this is a mini auction. Teams fill only empty slots. Only 77 players can be bought. The total money left is 237.55 crore rupees across all teams.
Mini auctions happen in one day. They are shorter but still exciting. The bidding can still be very fierce. Teams want the right players.
Why IPL Future Picks Matter?
New players bring fresh energy to teams. A good new player can make a bad team better. That’s why the auction is so important. Young players get chances to show they can play in IPL. Many young Indian cricketers got big money before. Now they play for India national team.
Where to Check Information?
If you want to know more about IPL auction prediction 2025-26, visit websites and apps like 96.com. They write about expected auction picks IPL. They tell which players teams might buy. Many cricket experts make predictions. But remember – auctions can surprise everyone.
If you love cricket, watch the December 16 auction. Read about IPL player predictions before it starts. Visit 96.com app and website for information. Make your own predictions about expected auction picks IPL. Then watch and see if you were right.
