The Indian Premier League extended the retention and release deadline for franchises from November 15 to November 17, providing additional time ahead of the auction scheduled for December 16 in Goa. Delhi Capitals were the most active franchise ahead of the deadline, completing two trades: the side acquired Rishabh Pant from Lucknow Super Giants, with left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav moving to LSG in exchange, and obtained fast bowler T Natarajan from Sunrisers Hyderabad for leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari. Player registration for the auction closed on November 23, and the final auction pool was shared on December 3. The December 16 auction in Goa will be the final mini-auction before the 2028 mega auction, which will coincide with the start of the IPL's next media rights cycle. The 2027 season dates remain unconfirmed, though the tournament is expected to begin towards the end of March, a window previously earmarked alongside the 2025 and 2026 editions. The IPL's previous media rights auction in 2022 fetched Rs 48,390.5 crore, underlining the tournament's status as one of the world's most valuable sporting properties. The BCCI is yet to issue the tender for the upcoming rights deal.