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NEW DELHI: The build up to the IPL 2026 mini auction has intensified with a massive pool of 1,355 registered players vying for only 77 available slots.

The December 16 auction in Abu Dhabi is expected to be one of the most competitive in the league’s history, with franchises entering the room armed with sizeable budgets and a long list of domestic and overseas hopefuls.

Strong Indian presence in the player list

As per ESPNcricinfo long group of Indian players has thrown their names into the ring. Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat, Rahul Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, Deepak Hooda, Venkatesh Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Mavi, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya, Kuldeep Sen, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi, Sandeep Warrier and Umesh Yadav are among the notable names aiming for fresh opportunities and bigger roles in the upcoming season.

Overseas stars headline a crowded field

The overseas entries are equally eye catching. Australia’s Cameron Green and Steve Smith, England’s Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Smith, New Zealand’s rising star Rachin Ravindra and Sri Lanka’s high impact duo Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana headline a long list of foreign players eager for a contract. In total, 43 overseas cricketers have placed themselves in the highest price bracket.

Players with 2 crore base price

In the top category, the names listed with a base price of Rs 2 crore include Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Sam Connolly, Jake Fraser McGurk, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Mustafizur Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Liam Livingstone, Tymal Mills, Jamie Smith, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Rachin Ravindra, Gerald Coetzee, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Wiese, Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Joseph.

Glenn Maxwell opts out of the mini auction

In a notable development, Glenn Maxwell has decided not to register for the IPL 2026 mini auction. The Australian all rounder has endured a challenging patch with the bat in recent seasons, unable to consistently produce the explosive innings that once made him one of the most feared T20 finishers in the world.

Despite his struggles, Maxwell’s legacy includes some of the most compelling short format knocks ever seen, and his absence removes a major power hitting option from the auction pool.