The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has signaled that the IPL 2026 player auction is slated for December 16 at the ITC Grand Goa. A preliminary communication regarding the event was circulated on Saturday via a message from the board’s logistics team, which requested that franchises provide the expected size of their attending delegations. An auction briefing is also scheduled to take place at the venue on December 15.
While multiple franchise representatives have confirmed receiving this notice, it remains an informal request intended to expedite travel and accommodation arrangements. Official correspondence from the board to team owners and chief executives is still pending. The planning comes as the cricket calendar faces potential conflicts; India is scheduled to host Sri Lanka for an ODI in Bengaluru on the same date as the auction. Additionally, there has been speculation regarding a possible change of venue for the series opener on December 13, currently set for New Delhi, though the BCCI has dismissed suggestions that the match will be relocated. According to it is unclear whether the date of the match will be altered, but recent, Said there is a possibility that the venue of the first match (December 13), to be played in New Delhi, will be changed. However, a formal email confirming the date and venue has not yet been sent to the franchise owners or chief executives.
