IPL 2026 Mini-Auction: How Many Players Can Franchises Retain? Rules Explained

It’s that time of the year when everyone starts getting excited about the next Indian Premier League season. With the deadline for IPL 2026 retentions coming up, the buzz is already building, and teams like Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians are grabbing the most attention. Unlike the previous season, this time, it will be a mini-auction as most teams have already zeroed in on their final retention list. In addition to that, some major trade deals are also taking place in the background.

How many players can each franchise retain for IPL 2026?

Unlike the mega auction, a mini auction doesn’t put a cap on how many players a team can retain. As per the rules, each IPL team can have up to 25 players, and the total budget for every team is around ₹120 crore.

When is the retention deadline for IPL 2026?

The deadline for the IPL 2026 retention is 15 November (Saturday). The list of retained and released players for each franchise will be announced around 5 PM IST.

When is IPL 2026 player auction?

Although an official date for the IPL 2026 auction is yet to be announced, it is believed that it will be between December 13 and 16. Like the previous season, the IPL 2026 auction is likely to be hosted outside India. It is likely to happen in Abu Dhabi, as per reports. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia hosted the IPL 2025 auction.

Will teams get RTM (Right to Match) cards in IPL 2026?

The Right to Match (RTM) card came back in the last mega-auction after being removed in the 2022 season. Under the new rule, teams have more flexibility with retentions, the number of RTMs a team can use depends on how many players they keep.

Also, if a team uses an RTM, the new bidder can raise the price, making the process a bit fairer. However, since the IPL 2026 auction will be a mini-auction, RTM is unlikely to be there, since the number of players up for grabs will be less than that of a mega auction.

Thus, it would become unfair for the player or for teams trying to acquire him. By using the RTM card, franchises can retain their big players while curbing the price, compromising the player of his fair value.

When and where to watch IPL 2026 retention?

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by Shekhar November 14, 2025