Indian Premier League: Du Plessis, Maxwell drop out of tournament as 1,355 players register for 2026 IPL auction
Cameron Green headlines star-studded IPL auction list
The 2025 Indian Premier League was nothing short of absolute theatre, as we saw several records smashed, a handful of rising stars burst onto the scene, and, of course, a first-time champion crowned - the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
With the 2026 edition expected to be the biggest and best one yet, a record of 1,355 players from all ends of the globe were registered for the IPL auction by the November 30 deadline, and their signatures will be up for grabs at the event in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
However, with each franchise allowed a maximum of 25 players, only 77 slots remain available for the upcoming season, of which just 31 will be allocated to overseas players. Kolkata Knight Riders are expected to be busy at the auction, as they have 12 slots available.
While Indian players with specialised skillsets will have the lion’s share of slots to compete for, the headline signature on offer at the auction is expected to be Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, who missed last year’s IPL due to injury.
Green is one of 45 players that come into the auction with a base price of 2 crore, along with the likes of Liam Livingstone, David Miller, Jason Holder and Josh Inglis. Only two Indian players - Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi - are listed in the 2 crore reserve price bracket.
Big names set to skip 2026 IPL auction
While there is no shortage of stars set to feature in the 2026 IPL, there are several big-name players who have opted out of the competition after being released by their franchises ahead of the upcoming season.
Glenn Maxwell, who has featured in the last 13 seasons of the IPL, has chosen not to register for the auction this year. The Aussie all-rounder has had a few lean years in the competition and saw his 2025 campaign brought to an end prematurely after sustaining a broken finger.
The two-time IPL Most Valuable Player, Andre Russell, made a stunning decision to call time on his IPL career after KKR released him for this season. However, the franchise has handed him a role in the backroom as the team’s ‘Power Coach’ for this season.
Faf du Plessis has decided to take on a new challenge this season, committing fully to the Pakistan Super League, while England all-rounder Moeen Ali has chosen the same path. The PSL will run concurrently with the IPL, as it did last year.
