The 2027 season hasn’t started yet, but much of the talk in Indian cricket is already about IPL 2028. That season begins a new chapter for the league: a full mega auction, a new 2028–32 media rights deal, bigger purses and a possible change of format.
Here’s what has been confirmed so far, what is only reported, and what is still undecided.
Quick facts
| Next auction | IPL 2027 mini-auction, 16 Dec 2026, Goa Confirmed |
| Retention deadline | 17 Nov 2026 (moved from 15 Nov) Confirmed |
| Mega auction | Before the 2028 season Expected |
| Purse per team | About ₹150 crore, up from ₹120 crore Reported |
| Matches per season | 74 for now, 94 only discussed Expected |
| Media rights 2028–32 | About $5.4 billion, flat on the current deal Expected |
17 Nov 2026 · count as of 8 Nov
Mega auction resets every squad
The BCCI has fixed 16 December 2026 for the IPL 2027 player auction at ITC Grand Goa. It will be the first IPL auction held in India since 2022, after recent editions in Dubai, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi. It is a mini-auction, and the last one of the current cycle. A full mega auction is expected before the 2028 season.
Franchises now have until 17 November to submit their retention and release lists. The trade window stays open until one week before the auction.
The current retention rules allow up to six players to be kept through retentions or Right to Match (RTM) cards. They expire after the 2027 season. The rules for 2028 have not been released, and franchises are waiting for them before planning their squads.
Bigger purse, bigger demands
Each team’s purse is reported to be heading to about ₹150 crore for the mega auction. The BCCI has not confirmed this. Some star players are already asking for a large share of it. According to Cricbuzz, at least two top Indian players want around ₹40 crore each to stay with their teams, and one of those demands is reportedly tied to the captaincy.
| Auction | Purse per team | Change | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 mega | ₹90 crore | — | Confirmed |
| 2025 mega | ₹120 crore | +₹30 crore | Confirmed |
| 2028 mega | ~₹150 crore | +₹30 crore | Reported |
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won in 2025 and again in 2026, could find it hardest to keep their title-winning squad together if retention prices keep rising.
74 or 94 matches?
The 2023–27 media rights tender originally planned for the league to grow to 94 matches, a full home-and-away format where every team plays each other twice. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal later said the BCCI would seriously look at 94 matches for the cycle starting in 2028, with no new teams.
In June 2026, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the expansion is not possible in the near future because of the crowded international calendar. The board is instead looking at an earlier window of roughly 10 March to 15 May, to avoid extreme heat and pre-monsoon rain. IPL 2026 ran from 28 March to 31 May.
Media rights: growth expected to slow
The 2023–27 deal is worth about ₹48,390 crore, or roughly $5.4 billion. That was close to three times the previous cycle, mainly because Viacom18 and Disney Star bid heavily against each other. Those two businesses have since merged into JioStar, so the biggest rivalry in the bidding is gone.
A March 2026 report by Media Partners Asia expects the 2028–32 rights to fetch about the same total. If the season grows to 94 matches, the value per match would be about 13% lower. Media rights now provide around three-quarters of franchise revenue, compared with less than half in 2017.
| Cycle | Total value | Per-match value | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–22 | ₹16,347 crore | — | Confirmed |
| 2023–27 | ₹48,390 crore (~$5.4 bn) | About 3x the previous total | Confirmed |
| 2028–32 | ~$5.4 bn | −13% if 94 matches | Expected |
There could still be competition. Industry observers say Zee may bid after its recent push into sports broadcasting. The BCCI is also reported to be considering more rights packages, such as a separate connected-TV package, to attract more bidders. The tender has not been released yet.
Gambhir back in the IPL?
A Dainik Jagran report says four franchises have spoken to India head coach Gautam Gambhir about a coach or mentor role in 2028. KKR is seen as the most likely team. His return depends on his India contract. If the BCCI extends it until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, an IPL return would be off for now.
The Impact Player rule will stay for at least 2027, after several franchises objected to removing it at short notice. Whether it continues from 2028 has not been decided.
Road to IPL 2028
- May 2025
Dhumal says a 94-match season will be considered for the 2028 cycle - 24 Mar 2026
Media Partners Asia forecasts flat media rights for 2028–32 - 31 May 2026
RCB defend their IPL title - Jun 2026
Saikia rules out 94 matches for now and proposes a March 10 start - Oct 2026
IPL 2027 auction confirmed for Goa on 16 December - 17 Nov 2026
Retention and release lists due - 16 Dec 2026
IPL 2027 mini-auction, ITC Grand Goa - Early 2027
2028–32 media rights auction expected - Before IPL 2028
Retention rules announced, then the mega auction
iSportsLeague take
IPL 2028 will be about money as much as cricket. Purses are rising, but the broadcast income that pays for them is not expected to grow. Retention rules will decide the season. If the BCCI doesn’t cap what one player can take, a handful of stars could use up a quarter of a team’s budget each. That would hurt squad depth more than any change of format.
IPL 2028 FAQ
Will there be a mega auction before IPL 2028?
Yes. Reports agree that the December 2026 auction is the last mini-auction of the current cycle, and a mega auction will follow before the 2028 season. The date has not been announced.
What will the IPL 2028 purse be?
Reports suggest around ₹150 crore per team, up from ₹120 crore. The BCCI has not confirmed it.
Will IPL 2028 have 94 matches?
Not according to current plans. The BCCI secretary has said the league will stay at 74 matches for now because of the international calendar.
Are new teams joining in 2028?
No new franchises have been announced. Officials have said they would rather add matches than teams.
All IPL 2027 auction news, retentions and squads in one place.
Open the IPL 2027 hubLast updated 8 Nov 2026 · Sources: ESPNcricinfo, PTI, Cricbuzz, Dainik Jagran, Media Partners Asia
