Correspondent, 17 October: The date and venue for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2027 season mini-auction have been revealed. The bidding event is scheduled to take place on December 16, 2026, at the five-star 'ITC Grand' hotel in Goa. According to a Cricbuzz report, this information was disclosed through a WhatsApp message sent by the BCCI's logistics team.
While franchise owners and CEOs have not yet received an official email regarding the auction, the WhatsApp message was circulated so teams could make travel bookings and other logistical arrangements. The communication also mentions that an information session will be organized on December 15, 2026, prior to the actual auction. Multiple IPL franchises have confirmed to Cricbuzz that they received this message. Although it remains unclear if these dates will see future changes, an official notice is expected to be issued at the appropriate time.
This decision marks a return to home soil after the previous three IPL auctions—for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons—were hosted in the overseas cities of Dubai, Jeddah, and Abu Dhabi, respectively. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the board desired to relocate the auction venue back to India following these recent foreign events. While it is convenient to host an event like the IPL mini-auction domestically, finding a suitable location in India proved challenging due to the December wedding season.
Meanwhile, December 16 will also feature a One Day International (ODI) match between India and Sri Lanka, scheduled to be played in Bengaluru. There is a possibility that players participating in this match will be up for auction bids. Consequently, cricket fans could experience a 'double dhamaka' with both the match and the auction taking place on the exact same day.
