India, Dec. 15 -- The IPL 2026 min-auction is a squad fixing auction, not a squad building one. With limited slots available, franchises aren't shopping for nice players, they are hunting specific roles, in specific price bands, with very little margin for error.

That's why the one thing to remember before the first paddle goes up is simple: there are far more players than jobs, and the auction is structured to force big decisions early.

The mini-auction will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, and is scheduled to start at 2:30 PM IST.

For fans in India, broadcasting/streaming is via Star Sports and JisHotstar.

Here is a look at the scale of the room:

There is also a funnel story behind the list. W...