IPL 2026: Auction Buzz, Schedule, and Teams to Watch on Tiger Exchange

IPL 2026 gears up for another thrilling season with explosive auctions and a packed schedule. Tailored for cricket fans betting on Tiger Exchange, this post dives into key highlights
Auction Highlights
The December 16 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi saw 369 players go under the hammer, filling 77 slots across 10 teams. CSK broke records with Rs 14.2 crore for uncapped Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, blending youth with experience post-Jadeja trade for Sanju Samson. KKR led spending with Rs 18 crore on Matheesha Pathirana, leveraging their Rs 64.30 crore purse, while Delhi Capitals grabbed Aqib Nabi Dar for Rs 8.40 crore.
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Tournament Schedule
IPL 2026 runs from March 26 to May 31, featuring 74 matches over 11 venues, starting three weeks after the T20 World Cup. This overlaps PSL, challenging overseas availability like Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman. Sunrisers Hyderabad face 10 open slots post-retentions, setting up intriguing rebuilds.
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Key Team Strategies
Teams balanced squads addressing past gaps in finishers and death bowling.

Team Key Buys Purse Rank Slots Filled
CSK Prashant Veer (Rs 14.2cr), Sanju Samson (trade) 2nd (Rs 43.4cr) Strong youth core
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Team

Key Buys

Purse Rank

Slots Filled

CSK

Prashant Veer (Rs 14.2cr), Sanju Samson (trade)

2nd (Rs 43.4cr)

Strong youth core ​

KKR

Matheesha Pathirana (Rs 18cr)

1st (Rs 64.3cr)

Bowling depth ​

Delhi Capitals

Aqib Dar (Rs 8.4cr), David Miller (Rs 2cr)

Mid-tier

Balanced attack ​

Mumbai Indians

Core retentions

Lowest (Rs 2.75cr)

Fine-tuning ​
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Gujarat Titans added Washington Sundar but face middle-order questions.
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Players to Watch
Spotlight falls on uncapped gems like Prashant Veer, pacers such as Aqib Dar, and stars like Josh Inglis (LSG, Rs 8.6cr). MS Dhoni's potential farewell adds drama for CSK, with Pat Cummins benchmarks lingering.
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Betting Tips on Tiger Exchange
Tiger Exchange offers prime IPL 2026 odds—track match winners, top batsmen, and live in-play bets. With rivalries heating up, early wagers on CSK or KKR rebuilds yield value amid auction momentum.
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