India, Dec. 16 -- The IPL auction is renowned for its high-octane bidding wars and record-breaking deals that dominate headlines. However, beneath the surface of these headline-grabbing moments lie two crucial mechanisms that often escape public attention yet can dramatically alter franchise fortunes.

As we get ready for the IPL 2026 mini-auction today, understanding the silent tie-breaker rule and accelerated bidding process becomes essential for comprehending the complete auction narrative.

The silent tie-breaker represents one of the IPL's most dramatic yet rarely used auction tools. Introduced in 2010 by then IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi, this mechanism resolves deadlocks when multiple franchises exhaust their purse while bidding for...