Shreyas Iyer expected to attend IPL 2026 auction; Ricky Ponting to skip it - Report

New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction is set to take place on December 16, Tuesday in Abu Dhabi. The highly-anticipated event which is expected to bring in many surprises could feature an unexpected star player on table.

As per a report in Cricbuzz, Shreyas Iyer, who is currently sidelined with a spleen injury, is expected to lead the Punjab Kings (PBKS) delegation in the Abu Dhabi event because of head coach Ricky Ponting giving it a miss. It has been learnt that the deadline for franchises to inform the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about the names of their representatives for the auction was Wednesday.

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The report further mentions that it is being learnt from a BCCI source that Punjab Kings have included their skipper's name in the list and as per the BCCI and auction guidelines, a maximum of eight team members can be present inside the auction hall with an additional number of six people permitted outside.

It is also being learnt that Iyer's plan to attend the auction is confirm barring any last-minute change of plans. Iyer. who's brilliant leadership and performance guided Punjab Kings to the season finale in 2025, has been out of action since the ODI series in Australia last month.

Meanwhile, Ricky Ponting is unlikely to make the trip to Abu Dhabi as the franchise head coach is currently contracted with the Seven Network in Australia for Ashes commentary and the third Test match begins on the next day of the auction that is December 17, Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval.

It is also being mentioned in the report that commentary duties may not be the only factor behind Ponting's absence in the auction. Details in depth remain concealed till now. Punjab Kings have limited transactions to conduct at the auction anyway with just Rs 11.5 crore left in the purse.