The offseason for the Indian Premier League is drawing to a close, and franchise management is now shifting focus to the crucial next phase of team building. The dates for the upcoming IPL Auction have been confirmed, with the event scheduled to take place from December 13th to 15th, as reported by Cricbuzz.
Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah joins Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma in rare 50+ club
While the BCCI finalises the exact venue, current reports suggest the auction will be returning to India after two seasons held overseas in Dubai and Jeddah, which will be a welcome change. However, the more immediate and challenging deadline for the IPL franchises is the retention submission, which is set for November 15th. This date marks the point of no return, where teams must finalise their core squads and officially declare which players will be released back into the auction pool.
The retention step is crucial for all franchises alike, as it directly determines the remaining salary cap available for spending in the upcoming Auction. Fans will be eager to witness what names are put up for retention, and can expect many big moves in the coming months as teams will be looking to address deficiencies from last season. Both Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, having finished lower in the standings than expected, are reportedly engaged in deep discussions about their rosters. High-profile players like Devon Conway, Sam Curran, and others are being speculated to find a new home next season.
The situation around some team captains, such as Rajasthan’s Sanju Samson, remains a key point of discussion for the team management, with a possible trade or release under consideration.
As always, a handful of marquee players are expected to draw maximum attention. For example, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, who missed out last season after being out injured, will be one of the most sought-after names at the Auction. His presence alone is likely to influence the bidding strategies of multiple franchises, ensuring that the December auction will be a defining moment for the entire league. The decisions made between now and mid-December will play a huge factor in IPL 2026.
