New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction is set to be held in Abu Dhabi, with December 15 or 16 emerging as the likely dates, according to a PTI report. This will mark the third consecutive overseas auction, after Dubai (2023) and Jeddah (2024).
An IPL official quoted by PTI confirmed,
“Abu Dhabi has been locked in as the auction venue,”
adding that while the location is finalised, the exact date is still under discussion.
The 2026 edition will feature a mini auction, following the mega auction held in 2025. Initially, December 14 was proposed, but logistics and scheduling adjustments are pushing it by a day or two.
The reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will enter the new season as defending title-holders, after lifting their first-ever IPL trophy in 2025 — ending a 17-year wait since the league’s inception in 2008.
Why Abu Dhabi Was Chosen Over Indian Venues
While Mumbai and Bengaluru were initially in contention to host the auction, Abu Dhabi’s accessibility for international staff and broadcasters—especially amid the concurrent Ashes series—reportedly made it the more convenient choice.
The move also continues the BCCI’s trend of staging IPL auctions abroad, enhancing the league’s global footprint.
High-Profile Trade Talks: Sanju Samson–Ravindra Jadeja Deal on the Cards?
With the player retention deadline set for November 15, a major trade deal between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) is said to be in the works.
Sources indicate that RR skipper Sanju Samson could be traded to CSK, while Ravindra Jadeja may move in the opposite direction. Discussions between the two franchises have reportedly advanced after earlier talks between RR and Delhi Capitals fell through.
It remains unclear whether the Samson–Jadeja exchange will be a straight swap or part of a multi-player trade package.
Meanwhile, reports linking Washington Sundar to CSK from Gujarat Titans appear to have cooled, with GT assuring the all-rounder more playing time in the 2026 season.
