Mumbai (Rajeev Sharma): The Indian Premier League 2026 auction is gearing up to be a major event with 350 players shortlisted to compete for 77 spots across the 10 franchises. The auction is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, featuring a mix of seasoned internationals and emerging Indian talent.
South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock, who recently returned from ODI retirement, has been added to the final list at a base price of ₹1 crore, making him one of the most talked-about names in this year’s pool. Australia’s Steve Smith, returning to the IPL after last playing in 2021, will also be available at a ₹2 crore base price. Other international stars include Australians Cameron Green and Jake Fraser-McGurk, New Zealander Devon Conway, and South Africa’s David Miller, all with base prices of ₹2 crore.
Among Indian players, Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan will enter the auction at ₹75 lakh each. Venkatesh Iyer, recently released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has listed himself at ₹2 crore, signaling strong interest from multiple franchises.
The auction pool was narrowed down from 1,390 initial registrations to 1,005, before finalizing the 350 players eligible for the bidding. With both experienced internationals and promising domestic talent in the mix, teams are expected to engage in strategic bidding wars.
Franchise purse sizes are shaping up to influence the auction dynamics. KKR, three-time champions, have the largest budget at ₹64.3 crore, followed by five-time winners Chennai Super Kings with ₹43.4 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad, one-time champions, hold a purse of ₹25.5 crore.
The IPL 2026 auction is set to be a high-stakes affair, blending global cricketing stars with India’s emerging players, as teams aim to build balanced squads for the next edition of the world’s premier T20 league.
