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IPL 2026 Mini-Auction Set for December 16 in Abu Dhabi as Teams Lock In Delegations

The BCCI has trimmed registrations to a 350-player shortlist for 77 available slots.

Overview

  • Punjab Kings have named captain Shreyas Iyer among their eight permitted representatives, with reports indicating he will lead their table.
  • Head coach Ricky Ponting is expected to miss the auction due to Ashes commentary commitments with Channel 7, while Daniel Vettori is expected to attend after seeking Cricket Australia’s permission.
  • PBKS enter with roughly ₹11.5 crore and four vacancies, prioritizing a replacement for limited-availability wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and depth in the middle order.
  • Analyst and AI-driven lists predict that established names including Steve Smith, Devon Conway, Sarfaraz Khan and Josh Inglis could go unsold given restricted overseas spots and only 77 total vacancies.
  • Reporting diverges on pool size, with some outlets citing 359 players versus the BCCI-confirmed 350, highlighting pre-auction uncertainty in the market.