The Indian Premier League auction pool has been expanded at the eleventh hour, with 19 additional cricketers added to the final list just a day before the bidding war in Abu Dhabi.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has officially updated the player register for the IPL 2026 auction, adding 19 new names to the roster. The total number of players going under the hammer today (Tuesday, 16 December) now stands at 369, up from the initially shortlisted 350. The revision comes after franchises expressed interest in specific players who weren’t on the original list during the final pre-auction process.
Among the notable late additions is Bengal’s prolific opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, who enters the auction with a base price of ₹30 lakh. Other significant names include New Zealand pacer Ben Sears and South African all-rounder Ethan Bosch. The list also reportedly includes experienced international players like South Africa’s Quinton de Kock and George Linde, along with Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage, giving teams more seasoned options in the high-stakes bidding.
The auction is happening at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, where ten franchises will compete for a maximum of 77 available slots. Of those, 31 spots are reserved for overseas players. The expanded pool now has a mix of capped and uncapped talent, all going after lucrative contracts in the world’s richest cricket league.
“On the eve of the auction, the BCCI finalised the player pool by adding 19 names… All ten franchises will be keen to assemble squads capable of challenging for the IPL 2026 title,” The Times of India noted.
This “mini-auction” is crucial for teams looking to fill specific gaps. Kolkata Knight Riders enter with the biggest purse of ₹64.30 crore but also the most vacancies (13 slots). Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have the smallest budget (₹2.75 crore) and are only looking to fill five spots. The addition of players like Easwaran and de Kock offers last-minute strategic value for teams needing reliable top-order batters or backup wicketkeepers.
The auction is scheduled to begin at 14:30 IST today. With marquee names like Cameron Green, Venkatesh Iyer, and Ravi Bishnoi also in the mix, analysts expect fierce bidding for all-rounders and fast bowlers. The late inclusion of these 19 players adds a fresh layer of unpredictability to the whole thing.
Also Read / Quinton de Kock in surprise IPL auction return as BCCI shortlists 350 players.
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