IPL 2026 auction Highlights: LSG buys Josh Inglis for ₹8.60 cr.; CSK buys Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma as costliest uncapped players in IPL history – thehindu.com

December 16, 2025e-Paper
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December 16, 2025e-Paper
Updated – December 16, 2025 09:27 pm IST
Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer created history as the most expensive buys in the history of IPL history. Both went to Chennai Super Kings. Photo: Special Arrangement
Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history on Tuesday (December 16, 2025) as the Kolkata Knight Riders bought the Australian all-rounder for ₹25.2 crore, after a bidding war first with Rajasthan Royals and then with Chennai Super Kings.
Chennai Super Kings splurged a record-breaking ₹28.4 crore for uncapped Uttar Pradesh spinner Prashant Veer and wicketkeeper batter Kartik Sharma, both going for ₹14.2 crore each. 
A mini-auction for the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was held in Abu Dhabi.
In the second round of bidding, some players went for high prices with Josh Inglis being bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹8.60 crore. Rahul Chahar will be donning the yellow colour after Chennai Super Kings bought him for ₹5.20 crore.
Most Expensive Buys – IPL 2026.jpg
In the last one bid, Delhi Capitals buys Kyle Jamieson for ₹2 crore. With this we come to the conclusion of the IPL 2026 auction.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru gets Vihaan Malhotra and Kanishk Chauhan at the base price of ₹30 lakh each.
Jack Edwards comes in next for auction and Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans come into play. Fierce bidding from GT and CSK . With GT backing out, SRH comes into play at ₹1.80 crore. Good bidding from SRH and CSK now. CSK backs out at₹3 crore and gets for ₹3 crore
Rajasthan Royals buys Brijesh Sharma at his base price of ₹30 lakhs.
Punjab Kings shows interest for Vishal Nishad and buys him at a base price of ₹30 lakhs
Mumbai Indians buys all-rounder Mayank Rawat at the base price of ₹30 lakhs
Delhi Capitals shows interest for South African Lungi Ngidi and buys him at the base price of ₹2 crore.
SRH and LSG show interest for Josh Inglis for a base price of ₹2 crore. SRH goes up to ₹8.60 crore. Lucknow Super Giants buys Josh Inglis for ₹8.60 crore.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru shows interest and gets Jordan Cox for ₹75 lakhs.
CSK and PBKS, once again, are in some fierce bidding to get Ben Dwarshuis. With CSK backing out, Gujarat Titans come into play. GT backs out at ₹5.40 crore. Dwarshuis goes to Punjab Kings for ₹5.40 crore
Once again in the second round, Atharva Taide, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Kamlesh Nagarkoti went unsold
Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings are up to buy Rahul Chahar. It’s quite interesting to note that in the second round of auctioning, franchises are showing interest who went unsold in the first round. Some fierce bidding from PBKS and CSK for Rahul Chahar. Chennai Super Kings buys him for ₹5.20 crore.
Sunrisers Hyderabad shows interest and buys Shivam Mavi for ₹75 lakh.
New Zealander Matt Henry will play for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2026 season for ₹2 crore
Kolkata Knight Riders buys Akash Deep at the base price of ₹1 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders show interest in getting Rachin Ravindra at the base price of ₹2 crore and gets the New Zealander in the second round of auctioning.
Liam Livingstone up for sale again. SRH and KKR show interest and KKR backing out Gujarat Titans enters the fray. With GT backing out, it’s now between LSG and SRH. Fierce bidding from SRH and LSG now with the bid crossing ₹10 crore-mark. Liam Livingstone goes to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Chennai Super Kings shows interest in Sarfaraz Khan in the second round and gets him for ₹75 lakhs
Rajasthan Royals have completed a sensational homecoming at the IPL 2026 Auction, securing Indian leg-spinner and Rajasthan native Ravi Bishnoi for ₹7.2 crore. Hailing from Jodhpur, Bishnoi adds proven quality and energy to the Royals’ bowling attack.
Speaking on his move to Rajasthan Royals, Ravi Bishnoi said, “Playing for Rajasthan Royals will feel like playing at home. I started my cricket journey here at RR , and now representing a team that carries the name of my state means a lot to me.”
RR Lead Owner Manoj Badale said, “Ravi is a special talent and someone our fans were eager to see in Royals colours. His return to the franchise feels like a homecoming, especially knowing he began his journey here. He’s a highly skilled bowler, a terrific fielder, and someone who embodies the hunger and spirit we value at this franchise.”
Bishnoi emerged as a priority target for the franchise. The Royals acted decisively in a competitive auction pool, fending off rival bids to ensure the local star finally represents his home state in the IPL.
Bishnoi strengthens the Royals’ bowling unit with a proven wicket-taker capable of controlling the game’s critical middle phase. His unique action and ability to generate quick turn make him an ideal fit for the Royals’. He also brings valuable experience having claimed 72 wickets in 77 IPL appearances, maintaining an economy rate of 8.21—underscoring his ability to deliver under pressure against the world’s best power-hitters.
KKR buys Daksh Kamra for ₹30 lakhs. RR shows some interest but backs out. Another round of accelerator after the break
Kolkata Knight Riders bids for Sarthak Ranjan for ₹30 lakhs and gets him at his base price.
SRH shows interest and buys Praful Hinge for ₹30 lakhs.
Mumbai Indians shows interest in Atharya Ankolekar and RR comes in for bidding. But Ankolekar goes to Mumbai Indian this season
SRH shows interest and buys Amit Kumar for ₹30 lakhs
Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed, West Indian Alzarri Joseph went unsold for the IPL 2026. Riley Meredith also went unsold.
Australian Cooper Connolly came for auction next. KKR and PBKS are in for bidding. KKR backs out at ₹3 crore. Punjab Kings buys Cooper Connolly for ₹3 crore. With this buy, Punjab Kings opened their account in this mini-auction
SRH bids for Onkar Tarmale at a base price of ₹30 lakhs and buys him.
SRH goes for Sakib Hussain and buys him for ₹30 lakhs.
Fierce bidding from RR and RCB for Ravi Singh. RCB backs out at ₹95 lakh and Ravi Singh will play for Rajasthan Royals
Fierce bidding from SRH and MI and SRH gets Salil Arora for ₹1.50 crore
RCB and SRH are bidding to buy Mangesh Yadav. Royal Challengers Bengaluru buys him for ₹5.20 crore.
The 23-year-old is a left-arm pace-bowling all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh. He made his T20 debut for the State in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Jharkhand just two days ago, but has already shown glimpses of his potential. Against Punjab on Tuesday, he smashed 28 off 12 balls at No. 8 before picking up the wickets of Prabhsimran Singh and Anmolpreet Singh in his three overs.
With RCB needing a left-arm seamer in case Yash Dayal is unavailable — he is currently facing allegations of sexual assault — Mangesh could be the ideal back-up.
Chennai Super Kings buys Aman Khan for ₹40 lakhs.
Satvik Deswal goes to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹40 lakhs.
Bidding from SRH and LSG now for Akshat Raghuwanshi at a base price of ₹30 lakhs. Tough bidding from LSG and SRH. Lucknow Super Giants buys him for ₹2.20 crore
Danish Malewar will play for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League 2026
Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings are going for Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh fast bowler. After DC backing out, it’s between KKR and CSK. Really tough bidding from both KKR and CSK now. It’s with KKR at ₹9.20 crore and Mustafizur Rahman will play for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2026
New Zealanders Adam Milne and Kyle Jamieson went unsold in the IPL mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi also went unsold.
Tim Seifert goes to Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹1.50 crore
It is quite surprising that some of the foreigners including Tom Banton, Jos Inglis and Jordan Cox went unsold
Chennai Super Kings buys Mathew Short for ₹1.50 crores
New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell, who represented Chennai Super Kings earlier, went unsold in this auction.
Chennai Super Kings enter the fray for Jason Holder at a base price of ₹2 crore. Gujarat Titans enter the fray. Still competition between CSK and GT. It’s back and forth between GT and CSK for the West Indian fast bowler Jason Holder. Finally it’s Gujarat Titans who buys Jason Holder for ₹7 crore.
Both Michael Bracewell and Sean Abott went unsold in the IPL mini-auction in Abu Dhabi
Rahul Tripathi – the former Chennai Super Kings batter goes to Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming season – ₹75 lakhs
After a break, Pathum Nissanka is up for auction now. DC and KKR are fighting it out for the Sri Lankan. KKR exit at ₹4 crore still with Delhi Capitals. Pathun Nissanka will play for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2026
Chennai Super Kings – ₹13 crore
Delhi Capitals – ₹9.40 crore
Gujarat Titans – ₹12 crore
Kolkata Knight Riders – ₹15.50 crore
Lucknow Super Giants -₹15.35 crore
Mumbai Indians – ₹1.75 crore
Punjab Kings – ₹11.50 crore
Rajasthan Royals – ₹7.35 crore
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – ₹7.40 crore
Sunrisers Hyderabad – ₹25.20 crore
Vignesh Puthur — who played for MI last season will now play for Rajasthan Royals
With two uncapped spinners went sold, KKR buys Prashant Solanki.
Bidding for Naman Tiwari between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants and LSG finally gets him for ₹1 crore.
An uncapped left-arm pacer who consistently clocks 140 km/h, Tiwari had impressed scouts with his control. While he hasn’t yet played a game for Uttar Pradesh in the senior domestic circuit, he was part of the Indian team that finished runner-up in the U-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2024.
The 23-year-old wicketkeeper from Delhi is a middle-order batter capable of the big hits. In the Delhi Premier League this year, he was one of the star performers, racking up 339 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 190.45. He made his T20 debut for Delhi in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and notched up his maiden half-century against Karnataka on December 4. His big-hitting prowess aside, he was able to maintain a cool head during some tense run chases in the DPL. Tejasvi, who trains under renowned coach Sanjay Bhardwaj, usually bats at No. 5. He had attended the trials of eight of the ten franchises before the auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders, in thick of action right from the beginning, buys Kartik Tyagi for ₹30 lakh (base price)
Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma sparking interest between RR and KKR. Gujarat Titans comes in at ₹80 lakh and buys him
In a matter of minutes, the 19-year-old from Rajasthan joined Prashant Veer in becoming the most expensive uncapped buys at an IPL auction, both going to Chennai Super Kings for ₹14.2 crore each. The wicketkeeper-batter may be wet behind the ears, but his clean striking had been catching the attention of IPL franchises going into the auction. He made his senior debut for Rajasthan in all three formats last season, and has already cracked hundreds in the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. 
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – the domestic T20 competition – he has scored 334 runs so far at a strike rate of 162.92. As many as 168 of these runs have come in sixes, illustrating his ability to clear the boundary at will.
CSK makes headlines in IPL 2026 auction, acquiring uncapped stars Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for ₹14.2 crore each.
Kolkata Knight Riders notches up Tejasvi Singh for ₹3 crore
Prashant Veer: The 20-year-old has featured in just nine T20 games for Uttar Pradesh in his young career. But as an accurate left-arm spinner and big-hitting left-hand batter, Veer had done his bit in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this season to garner the interest of Chennai Super Kings in particular. Given that CSK has parted ways with Ravindra Jadeja, the franchise’s keenness to rope in a youngster in Jadeja’s mould was to be expected.
Besides taking nine wickets in seven matches while conceding just 6.76 runs per over in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Veer also smashed 112 runs at a strike rate of nearly 170. Veer, who belongs to Amethi, had also shown spark for Noida Super Kings in the UP T20 League. – Vivek Krishnan
Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders are bidding for this wicket-keeper Kartik Sharma at a base price of ₹30 lakh.. With LST backing out, KKR and CSK are fighting it out for Kartik Sharma. It’s back and forth between KKR and CSK. Now SRH enters the fray with KKR backing out. Chennai Super Kings gets Kartik Sharma for ₹14.20 crore
Tanush Kotian, Kamlesh Nagarkoti,Sanvir Singh and Ruchit Ahir went unsold in the mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025.
Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants goes for Prashant Veer with a base price of ₹30 lakh. After Mumbai Indians backs out, it’s now between LSG and CSK. It’s now with CSK at ₹4.20 crore. LSG backs out and now RR enters the fray. SRH now enters the fray and bidding between SRH and CSK goes on. Unbelievable CSK and SRH go all out to buy Prashant Veer with the bidding crossing more than ₹10 crore mark. Chennai Super Kings finally buys Prashant Veer at ₹14.20 crore
Aquib Nabi in auction now. J&K’s fiery allrounder Aquib Nabi sparks a lot of interest. It a bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Nabi’s base price is ₹30 lakh. Now SRH enters into fray with RCB backing out. Bidding war between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad for Aquib Nani. Delhi Capitals gets Aquib Nani for ₹8.40 crore.
Having produced a string of stirring performances for Jammu & Kashmir in the 2025-26 domestic season, Nabi’s acquisition for a whopping ₹8.4 crore, which is 28 times his base price of ₹30 lakh, shouldn’t come as a major surprise. It is a remarkable rise nevertheless for the 29-year-old from India’s northernmost region, whose modest surroundings meant he had to borrow spikes from a friend when he first appeared for trials in his hometown of Baramulla at the age of 17. 
Nabi’s strength lies in his ability to swing the ball both ways, and he is also a useful lower-order batter. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy last season with 44 scalps, and he has backed it up with 29 wickets in five rounds of the First Class tournament this season. In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy too, he was J&K’s star performer with 15 wickets in seven matches. While red-ball cricket is his strongest suit, his performances in the domestic T20 event suggest he has the tools to adapt.
Several uncapped players like Atharva Taide, Anmolpreet Singh, Abhinav Tejrana, Yash Dhull and Abhinav Manohar went unsold.
Chennai Super Kings opened their auction by buying Akeal Hosein for ₹2 crore
Bishnoi’s credentials with his fastish leg-breaks and googlies in the shortest format are evident from his numbers for India: 61 wickets in 42 matches at an excellent economy rate of 7.35. But 2025 hasn’t been ideal: he has lost his spot in the national team in recent months in addition to being released by Lucknow Super Giants after a campaign that witnessed Digvesh Rathi overtake him as the franchise’s first-choice spinner. The 25-year-old will be keen to find his way back, and a chance has been offered by Rajasthan Royals. He will partner the experienced Ravindra Jadeja, freshly traded from Chennai Super Kings, in RR’s spin attack. 
Bishnoi originally belongs to Rajasthan, but he now plays for Gujarat in domestic cricket. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scalped nine breakthroughs in seven games. 
Rajasthan Royals gets him for ₹7.20 crore. — Vivek Krishnan
I think the impact, we have an amazing impact. We had to sort of hit a reset button for a number of reasons. And now we have a new power coach as well. I think the main thrust when they figured out for us what kind of structure that will allow us to be a very competitive team. Just by last year we were missing out on a couple of areas. So based on that, this structure, we have more work to do. But it’s been a good start for us.
KKR CEO Venky Mysore discusses the successful acquisition of Cameron Green during the IPL 2026 auction and team's strategy.
No surprises. We were all prepared. We tried to prepare as much as possible. The surprise was Rajasthan coming in. We knew they were there for us to bid. So we knew that it was maybe to warm up the room for whatever it was for us. But that’s okay. That happens and that’s absolutely fine. But no surprises at all. We tried our best to get it at a level that would have worked for them perhaps. But we were just happy to have that one.
It’s so difficult to give an answer to that because a lot of it, we didn’t go for him and how all of these things work. But you have been a terrific player for us. It’s just one of these things that happens in an auction. When you are faced with an auction, you have opportunities to think about your strategy. And if that strategy is taking you in a slightly different direction, sometimes these are things that happen. Not for the first time or the last time for us, or for that matter, other deans as well. So it’s a bit sad for us, but that’s the way all of these things go. 
South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje goes to Lucknow Super Giants for ₹2 crore his base price
It’s tough to say that. I think a lot of it would have depended on the rest of the plans and what’s happening. But I think we will be getting close, is what I can tell you. 
I don’t think the rules, I think the rules, the BCCI has made it with their wisdom on capping it at 18 crores. From our standpoint, I don’t think there is any concern in that regard because whether it had gone to the player this way, this is something that’s an off-goal for the franchise. So, we are okay. We are okay with that. And I don’t think it changes anything as far as the options are concerned. — Amol Karhadkar
First of all, we are very happy. This is something that we were really focused on and hoping always fingers crossed because often anything can happen. I think we were quite happy with the price that we have got. You know, there was always a concern that had it gone higher than what we have done. I think the fact is that we were very keen but not so attached. So, at some level if we felt that it would affect our auction, rest of the auction, we will let it go. And so, fortunately that didn’t happen. It came within the range that we were extremely happy with that. I think he adds a lot to our team and especially with our new power coach (Andre Russell) who is on board, I think it’s a very nice thing to have a young one on the field. We know what he does at the international stage with the vibe, with the ball, position in which he plays. So, couldn’t be happier in the new conditions. — Amol Karhadkar
The 22-year-old Sri Lankan hasn’t quite fulfilled his potential in four seasons of playing in the Indian Premier League, which is why Chennai Super Kings were compelled to let him go after a disappointing campaign this year. But as a young fast bowler with a slingy, low-arm action who is capable of targeting the block-hole at high speeds on a consistent basis, franchises clearly view Pathirana as a cricketer with a high ceiling. 
If Pathirana can rediscover the form that he showed for CSK in its run to the title in 2023, claiming 19 scalps in 12 matches at an economy of eight runs per over, KKR will be pleased with its investment. At the international level, Pathirana has claimed 31 wickets in 21 T20I appearances for the island nation. – Vivek Krishnan
Gerald Coetzee, Shivam Mavi, Matt Henry, Akash Deep goes unsold
At the mini-auction, KKR was the major player till now bidding for Cameron Green for a whopping ₹25.20 crore and also got Finn Allen for ₹2 crore.
A subpar campaign for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025 didn’t do justice to his hefty price tag of ₹23.75 crore, and led to the three-time champion releasing the 30-year-old all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh before the mini auction. That Venkatesh still has some value to offer was evident in KKR showing interest at the auction too, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru was just willing to shell out a bit more from its purse for his services. Venkatesh, who has played two ODIs and nine T20Is for India, has been in decent form for M.P. in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where his most recent knock was a 43-ball 70 against Punjab. He has also taken six scalps with his medium-pace in the domestic T20 tournament. — Vivek Krishnan
Delhi Capitals gets Ben Duckett at a base price of ₹2 crore
England’s Jonny Bairstow up for auction at a base price of ₹1 crore and he went unsold at the mini auction.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz also went unsold 
Mumbai Indians got hold of South African Quinton de Kock at the base price of ₹1 crore
K.S. Bharat and Deepak Hooda went unsold in the mini auction held in Dubai
Auction for Venkatesh Iyer at a base price of ₹2 crore. Bidding war starts between LSG and Gujarat Titans. RCB enters the fray at ₹3 crore. KKR enters the fray at ₹3.40 crore. Now bidding war starts between RCB and KKR. At ₹7 crore, KKR exited the bidding war and Royal Challengers Bengaluru gets Venkatesh Iyer.
Sri Lankan Wanindu Hazaranga went to Lucknow Super Giants at a base price of ₹2 crore
Liam Livingstone was next in auction in the all-rounder list at a base price of ₹2 crore but he also went unsold at the mini-auction. Mulder also went unsold at a base price of ₹1 crore
Former Chennai Super Kings player Rachin Ravindra also went unsold at the mini-auction held in Dubai
Next comes the first set of all-rounders. Gus Atkinson at a base price of ₹2 crore went unsold
In sync with expectations heading into the IPL mini auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, the Australian became the most expensive overseas player in the tournament’s history. Although he was listed as a batter in the opening set – which Green attributed to a goof-up by his manager – it is his all-round prowess that made Kolkata Knight Riders go all out to acquire the towering Aussie. 
Along with his ability to tonk big sixes and bat anywhere, he is a pacer who can hit the 140 km/h mark on the speed gun. He played for Mumbai Indians in the 2023 season, and for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024. Although he missed the tournament this year due to a back injury and made his return for Australia as a specialist batter in June, he has since been cleared to bowl. — Vivek Krishnan
After the bidding of Cameron Green, India’s Sarfaraz Khan went up for auction but there was no interest among the franchises and he went unsold
There was a bidding war between Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for Australian Cameron Green. After a fierce bidding war between CSK and KKR, Green went to KKR for ₹25.20 crore
Kolkata Knight Riders began to bid to take this all-rounder Cameron Green. Rajasthan Royals are also in the race. Green is getting some interest in the auction. A bidding war erupts between KKR & RR. With ₹13.60 Rajasthan Royals backs out. Chennai Super Kings enters the fray now. Again a bidding war between KKR and CSK. Cameron Green now up goes past ₹18 crore. Bidding war is on between CSK and KKR
Prithvi Shaw, who was expected to have some interest among the franchises, went unsold at a base of ₹75 lakh
Delhi Capitals got hold of South African David Miller at a base price of ₹2 crore.
McGurk went unsold. He has a base price of ₹2 crore
First set of players to be auctioned. The players in this set are: Cameron Green, Devon Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Prithvi Shaw. All players in this set, except Shaw and Sarfaraz, have a base price of ₹2 crore.
Sanjay Bangar said the most expensive uncapped Indian player will depend on demand for specific skills, highlighting left-arm seamer Naman Tiwari and leg-spinner Shubham Agarwal as strong contenders.
“I think it will depend on the skill set — whether it’s a left-arm seamer or a leg-spinner. In the left-arm seamers, Naman Tiwari stood out in the last U19 edition; he swings the ball well and keeps it close to the stumps. In the spinner category, Shubham Agarwal is a very good leg-spinner and an experienced option. Keep an eye on both of them.” — ANI
Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara said that legspinner Ravi Bishnoi could be the most expensive Indian player at the Indian Premier League (IPL) season 2026 auction, set to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.
Ravi Bishnoi made an immediate impact with Punjab Kings in IPL 2020, earning an Emerging Player nomination for his bowling in pressure situations. His career took a major turn after joining Lucknow Super Giants in 2022, where he became a key middle-overs bowler, taking 39 wickets across three seasons as the team reached the playoffs twice. Retained for ₹11 crore at the IPL 2025 auction, Bishnoi has built a reputation as a reliable T20 spinner, highlighted by consistent performances and solid IPL career stats of 72 wickets in 77 matches with an economy rate of 8.22.Ravi Bishnoi will feature in the IPL 2026 mini auction with a base price of ₹2 crore.
Speaking on JioStar, Cheteshwar Pujara named the player he feels could become the most expensive Indian signing at the IPL 2026 mini auction. He predicted that Ravi Bishnoi could be the most expensive Indian player at the IPL 2026 mini auction, citing teams’ strong demand for quality spinners.
“I think it will be Ravi Bishnoi because they want to pick a lot of spinners, and he’s one of the best bowlers in this auction. I think Ravi Bishnoi will be the most expensive Indian player.” — ANI
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction approaches, franchises are gearing up to strengthen their squads with a mix of star players and promising uncapped talent. Ahead of the auction on Tuesday (December 16, 2025), former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan weighed in on fast bowlers who could attract strong bids. The 2026 auction will take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The player list for the 2026 season auction has been finalised, with 350 players, including 240 Indian cricketers and 110 overseas.
Chennai Super Kings' Matheesha Pathirana bowls a delivery during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP Photo/R. Parthibhan)
“Look, if you talk about international fast bowlers, I think Matheesha Pathirana will still be a hot pick because of the skill level he brings, even though he’s had some fitness issues and an off year. Gerald Coetzee is another interesting name — not just for his bowling, but he can also bat down at No. 8, which adds balance. And then there’s Ashok Sharma, whose speed and ability to hit the stumps make him one to watch. These three are the ones I think will be hot picks in the auction,” Irfan Pathan said on JioStar.– ANI
High-profile swaps, the release of expensive assets and a clear shift towards phasing out ageing stars emerged as the dominant themes at the end of the Indian Premier League’s player-retention deadline on Saturday (November 15, 2025).
The day began with confirmation of two significant trades: the much-anticipated Ravindra Jadeja-Sanju Samson swap between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Mohammed Shami’s all-cash transfer from Sunrisers Hyderabad to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Rajasthan Royals trade Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran ahead of IPL 2026.
A total of 350 cricketers, including 240 Indians, will go under the hammer in the IPL auction to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
A total of 1,390 players are registered for the auction. The number was reduced to 1,005 players before 350 were finally shortlisted to battle for 77 slots available, including 31 for overseas players, across the 10 teams for the 19th edition of the world’s biggest T20 league.
IPL Auction 2026: Here is the full list of players for the Indian Premier League 2026 auction, featuring 350 cricketers to be auctioned on December 16
Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw — the intriguing batters who went unsold in last year’s full auction — have been named in the opening set of players for the Indian Premier League (IPL) Player Auction ahead of the 2026 edition. The auction is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
IPL 2026 auction features 350 players, including Quinton de Kock, with KKR holding the largest budget at ₹64.3 crores.
The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), featuring 350 players, will go under the hammer at the upcoming auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16th. A total of 1,390 players registered for the Player Auction. The number was pruned to 1,005 players before 350 were finally shortlisted to battle for 77 slots available, including 31 for overseas players, across the 10 teams.
IPL auction 2026: List of capped Indian players participating in the auction set for December 16 in Abu Dhabi.
In Kolkata Knight Riders’ list of retained players for IPL 2026, there is a big-hitting West Indian all-rounder from Jamaica. But contrary to expectations before the list was announced on November 15, it isn’t Andre Russell, who has subsequently chosen to end his playing career in the IPL and take up a coaching role with the franchise. Instead, the three-time IPL champion has retained Rovman Powell.
Kolkata Knight Riders retain Rovman Powell as Andre Russell transitions to coaching, highlighting changes in IPL dynamics and player opportunities.
The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League will be held between March 26 to May 31 window but it remains to be seen if Bengaluru, the home of RCB, holds the opening match.
As per the norms, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium should host the tournament opener, given, the home side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025 title.
– PTI
IPL 2026 will run from March 26 to May 31, following the T20 World Cup final on March 8.
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Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Tuesday (December 16, 2025), former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina commented on Sarfaraz Khan joining the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹7 crore.Raina believes the franchise should consider targeting Sarfaraz Khan at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, arguing that the batter’s red-hot domestic form makes him a timely and value-driven option.
LUCKNOW 02/12/2025: Mumbais Sarfaraz Khan exults after the century knock against Assam in the Syed Mustaq Ali trophy match at Ekana stadium, in Lucknow on Tuesday. DECEMBER 02, 2025 PHOTO SANDEEP SAXENA
– ANI
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Australia all-rounder Cameron Green on Sunday (December 14, 2025) clarified that he well be available to bowl in the IPL saying a “stuff-up” by his manager led to him being mistakenly registered as a batter for the mini auction.
The 26-year-old, who miss the 2025 IPL season as he recovered from back surgery, return to international cricket as a specialist batter in June. However, he has since been cleared to bowl and has been rolling his arm in the ongoing Ashes series between Australia and England.
Read more:
Cameron Green clarifies his IPL auction listing error, confirming he's available to bowl despite manager's mistake.
With the IPL mini auction set to take place today, a look at the most expensive buys across all auctions since 2008:
Explore the history of IPL auctions and discover the most expensive players since 2008, including legends like M.S. Dhoni.
Here’s a look at the uncapped Indian players to watch out for in the Indian Premier League mini-auction
Read more:
Discover uncapped Indian players to watch in the IPL mini-auction, showcasing emerging talents and their auction potential.
The pool features 350 players — 240 Indians and 110 overseas cricketers. Of the 350 names, 40 cricketers have opted for the highest base price bracket of ₹2 crore, while 227 uncapped domestic players have fixed their base price at ₹30 lakh – the lowest among the eight available brackets.
Here is a list of capped Indian players:
1. Sarfaraz Khan
2. Prithvi Shaw
3. Deepak Hooda
4. Venkatesh Iyer
5. K.S. Bharat
6. Akash Deep
7. Shivam Mavi
8. Ravi Bishnoi
9. Rahul Chahar
10. Mayank Agarawal
11. Rahul Tripathi
12. Chetan Sakariya
13. Kuldeep Sen
14. Umesh Yadav
15. Navdeep Saini
16. Sandeep Warrier
As the JSW and GMR co-owned Delhi Capitals gear up for the IPL 2026 Auction, CEO Sunil Gupta shared insights into the franchise’s approach for the upcoming auction, key retentions, and the recent trade that brings Nitish Rana into the Capitals’ fold, according to a press release.
The auction for the IPL 2026 season will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
Out of 1,390 players who registered for the auction, 350 were shortlisted, including 240 Indian and 110 overseas players. The pool also includes 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players, bringing fresh talent and depth to this year’s auction.
Speaking about the core of the squad, Gupta said, “We have retained a solid group of players from last season. While we narrowly missed out on qualifying for the playoffs, it was a campaign filled with important learnings. We take those lessons forward and go again with a strong set of players, fully focused on achieving our objectives.”
Ahead of the auction, Delhi Capitals completed a trade with Rajasthan Royals, bringing in Nitish Rana in exchange for Donovan Ferreira. The experienced left-hander will don the Delhi Capitals jersey in the upcoming season.
-ANI
Mini-auctions ahead of an Indian Premier League (IPL) season have often produced record bids, particularly for overseas cricketers. In a move aimed at preserving the value of Indian players — and discouraging foreign stars from targeting mini-auctions for inflated paydays — the IPL authorities have introduced a rule that caps the amount an overseas player can earn at a mini-auction.
Read more:
IPL caps overseas player earnings at ₹18 crore in mini-auction to maintain Indian player value and curb inflated bids.
The Etihad Arena — adjacent to the picturesque Yas Marina Formula One circuit — was illuminated by football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence only last week.
On Tuesday (December 16, 2025), the iconic venue will once again be at the centre of global sporting attention when franchises splurge lakhs and crores at the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) Player Auction.
Read more here
Published – December 16, 2025 11:24 am IST
India / IPL / Indian Premier League / sport / Live news
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