The stage is set for a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction after all ten franchises submitted their final retention lists. With the deadline passed, the financial firepower available to each team has been officially locked in, revealing stark contrasts in spending capacity ahead of the December bidding war.
Team Purse Breakdown: From Titans to Minnows
The financial landscape for the upcoming auction is dramatically varied. While some teams are operating on a tight budget, others have amassed colossal sums, setting the scene for aggressive bidding on top talent. The purse adjustments follow a series of strategic player releases and a major trade that saw Sanju Samson move to Chennai Super Kings for a confirmed Rs 18 crore.
Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions, find themselves in the most constrained position. The Hardik Pandya-led side will enter the auction with a mere Rs 2.75 crore, the smallest purse of all. To get here, they released four overseas players—Lizaad Williams, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bevon Jacobs, and Reece Topley—along with Indian uncapped players Vignesh Puthur and D Satyanarayana Raju.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)Rs 64.3 crore purse, the largest by a significant margin. This financial muscle provides their revamped support staff, including head coach Abhishek Nayar, Shane Watson, and Tim Southee, with a golden opportunity to rebuild the squad into title contenders for IPL 2026.
Mid-Tier Purses and Strategic Releases
Several teams find themselves with moderate, yet strategic, amounts to spend. The Punjab Kings, who were runners-up in IPL 2025, have Rs 11.5 crore after releasing three Australian players: Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, and Aaron Hardie, along with Indians Praveen Dubey and Kuldeep Sen.
The Gujarat Titans, the 2022 champions, have Rs 12.9 crore at their disposal. Under Shubman Gill's leadership, they released five players: Karim Janat, Gerald Coetzee, Dasun Shanaka, Mahipal Lomror, and Kulwant Khejroliya.
Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural IPL winners, parted ways with their entire Sri Lankan spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, as well as Afghan quick Fazalha Farooqi. They also released four Indian players, entering the auction with Rs 16.05 crore.
The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), have Rs 16.4 crore to work with. They released four players, including overseas stars Liam Livingstone and Lungi Ngidi, and Indian players Mayank Agarwal and Swatik Chikara.
The Big Spenders: Teams with Maximum Firepower
A cluster of teams enters the auction with substantial funds, poised to be major players. The Delhi Capitals released six players, including the headline release of Faf du Plessis, and will bid with Rs 21.8 crore.
The Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Supergiants were one of the most active teams at the release stage, letting go of seven players, including David Miller and Ravi Bishnoi. This gives them a healthy Rs 22.9 crore purse.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, decided to release six players and will head into the auction with Rs 25.5 crore.
Perhaps the most intriguing team is Chennai Super Kings (CSK). After a disappointing last-place finish in IPL 2025, the five-time champions are looking to rebuild. They made a massive clear-out, releasing ten players, including Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, and Matheesha Pathirana. Combined with the acquisition of Sanju Samson, this strategy leaves them with the second-largest purse: a formidable Rs 43.4 crore.
The IPL 2026 mini-auction, scheduled for December, promises to be a high-stakes affair. With purses ranging from a modest Rs 2.75 crore to an enormous Rs 64.3 crore, team strategies will diverge wildly, making it a fascinating event for cricket fans worldwide.
