NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction is reportedly scheduled for December 15, with India emerging as the most likely host for the event. This would mark the league’s return to an India-based auction for the first time since 2022, according to a Times of India report.
Contrary to earlier speculation that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was exploring options in the Gulf region, including Abu Dhabi, Oman, and Qatar, the latest update suggests that the auction will now take place on home soil. The official confirmation and city venue are expected to be announced soon.
The player retention deadline for all ten IPL franchises has reportedly been set for November 15, ahead of the mini-auction in December.
The last two IPL auctions were conducted abroad — in Dubai (2023) and Jeddah (2024) — marking a shift in the league’s approach to international staging.
Meanwhile, attention will also turn to the Women’s Premier League (WPL), whose auction is scheduled for November 27 in Delhi. This will be the first mega auction in the WPL’s history since its inception in 2023.
The retention list for the upcoming WPL 2026 auction has already generated headlines, with India’s Deepti Sharma and South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt released by UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants respectively.
Top Indian stars including Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, and Richa Ghosh have all been retained by their respective teams. Defending champions Mumbai Indians and last season’s runner-up Delhi Capitals have each retained five players.
Under the WPL’s updated retention rules, each franchise can retain up to three capped Indian players, two overseas players, and two uncapped Indian players. If a team retains five players, at least one must be uncapped.
For the first time, franchises will also be allowed to exercise a Right-to-Match (RTM) option during the WPL auction — enabling them to buy back a player from their 2025 roster.
With both IPL and WPL auctions approaching, the stage is set for an exciting off-season filled with team reshuffles, big buys, and high-profile player moves.
