The IPL 2026 Mini-Auction, held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, witnessed history being made as unprecedented sums were paid for both overseas stars and uncapped Indian cricketers. A total of 369 players went under the hammer as the ten franchises aimed to fine-tune their squads for the upcoming season.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) dominated the overseas market, acquiring Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for a record-breaking Rs. 25.20 crore, making him the costliest overseas player in IPL history. They also secured Matheesha Pathirana for Rs. 18.00 crore.
However, the most striking narrative of the auction was the massive financial outlay on uncapped Indian talent. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) set new benchmarks by signing all-rounder Prashant Veer and wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma for Rs. 14.20 crore each. This reflects a significant shift in the valuation of emerging Indian players.
Delhi Capitals (DC) also invested heavily in domestic talent, purchasing Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar for Rs. 8.40 crore. Other franchises also made strategic signings: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured Liam Livingstone for Rs. 13 crore, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) brought in Venkatesh Iyer for Rs. 7 crore, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) added Josh Inglis and Anrich Nortje.
Gujarat Titans (GT) acquired Jason Holder, while Mumbai Indians (MI) opted for a cost-effective return of Quinton de Kock. Rajasthan Royals (RR) boosted their spin attack with Ravi Bishnoi for Rs. 7.20 crore. DC added depth with David Miller and Ben Duckett at their base prices.
The auction also showcased its unpredictable nature, with several prominent players like Devon Conway and Michael Bracewell initially failing to attract bids. However, the accelerated rounds saw a flurry of activity, with Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan eventually finding new teams at their base prices, highlighting the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of IPL auctions.