BCCI likely to move IPL 2026 auction venue to India after Middle East test

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might bring the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction back to India for the 2026 edition. With the Saudis showing interest in the IPL, the BCCI had taken the auction to Dubai in 2023 and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2024.

Venue for IPL 2026 auction

According to Cricbuzz, it wouldn’t be a shock if BCCI returns to India for the mini-auction. Although the decision isn’t confirmed just yet, since the IPL Governing Council (GC) hasn’t convened on the matter just yet.

Although it hasn’t been confirmed, reports suggest that BCCI will hold the IPL 2026 auction between December 13 and 15. Last year, due to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and Jay Shah’s departure as BCCI Secretary, the auction was held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25.

Over the years, Bengaluru has been the venue where the BCCI has held the IPL auction the most. The city hosted the auction on 7 occasions. It began with two back-to-back stints from 2010 to 2011 and then from 2015 to 2018, and made a return to the city in 2022.

However, in the last few years, we have seen Ahmedabad become the most preferred hosting venue in the IPL. The city has hosted three of the last four IPL finals since the Gujarat Titans (GT) were introduced in 2022. Perhaps the BCCI will bring the auction there for the very first time.

IPL auction venues over the years