The DP World ILT20 will take a big leap this year with its first-ever player auction, moving ahead of the draft system. The auction for Season 4 will be held today, October 1, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai. All six franchises will gather in one room to battle for signatures as they look to complete their squads ahead of the tournament beginning on December 2.
Unlike previous editions that relied on direct signings, this will be the first time the ILT20 adopts a structured auction system, bringing an IPL-style edge to team building. Franchises will need to balance strategy and budgets carefully, with strict squad composition rules ensuring space for Full Member stars, UAE players, and Associate Nation cricketers. Incidentally, this year’s auction will see Ravichandran Ashwin go under the hammer, as he is marked with the most expensive signing. Dinesh Karthik has already joined Sharjah Warriors yesterday.
ILT20 2026 Auction details
- Event: DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction
- Date: Wednesday, 1 October 2025
- Time: 3:30 PM IST
- Venue: Four Seasons Hotel, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai
ILT20 Auction rules at a glance
- Purse: Minimum spend of USD 1.5M, maximum USD 2M per franchise
- Squad size: 19–21 players (excluding 2 Wildcards)
- Composition: At least 11 Full Member players, 4 from UAE, 1 from Kuwait, 1 from Saudi Arabia, and 2 from other Associate Nations
- Wildcard signings: Up to two players can be signed outside the auction (max USD 250,000 extra spend)
- Right-to-Match: Teams may use one RTM card for a UAE player who featured for them in Season 3 or in their development squad
Where to watch ILT20 2026 Auction live in India
Cricket fans can follow every bid and signing as it happens:
- TV: No live TV telecast in India confirmed yet
- Live streaming: ZEE5 (India & UAE)
- YouTube: DP World ILT20’s official channel will stream the auction live globally
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