IPL 2026 Players Auction HIGHLIGHTS: A total of 369 players went under the hammer as all 10 franchises looked to fine-tune their squads at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, which concluded in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The standout moment of the day was Cameron Green’s Rs 25.20 crore move to Kolkata Knight Riders, making him the most expensive overseas purchase in IPL history. KKR further bolstered their line-up by signing Matheesha Pathirana for Rs 18 crore.
Another major theme of the auction was the rise of uncapped Indian players, who dominated bidding proceedings. Uttar Pradesh’s Prashant Veer was snapped up by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 14.20 crore, while Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder Auqib Dar earned a Rs 8.40 crore deal from Delhi Capitals. Kartik Sharma also fetched Rs 14.20 crore, with CSK securing his services to complete a remarkable day for domestic talent.
At the start of the auction, franchises had 77 slots to fill, including 31 overseas positions, setting the stage for one of the most competitive mini-auctions in recent years. There was also keen interest in whether any bid would surpass Rishabh Pant’s Rs 27 crore record, set at last year’s mega auction by Lucknow Super Giants, a mark that ultimately remained intact.
Big purse gives KKR flexibility at auction table
Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders entered the auction with one of the strongest financial positions. The Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise had a purse of Rs 64.30 crore, allowing them to go all out for Green before completing a marquee signing in Pathirana.
CSK eye rebuild after disappointing 2025 season
Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings were among the most active sides after enduring their worst-ever IPL campaign in 2025, finishing bottom of the points table. With Rs 43.40 crore available and nine slots to fill, CSK engaged in a bidding war with KKR for Green before spending over Rs 28 crore on two uncapped Indians- Prashant Veer, viewed as a potential long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja, and Kartik Sharma.
Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings were among the most active sides after enduring their worst-ever IPL campaign in 2025, finishing bottom of the points table. With Rs 43.40 crore available and nine slots to fill, CSK engaged in a bidding war with KKR for Green before spending over Rs 28 crore on two uncapped Indians, Prashant Veer, viewed as a potential long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja, and Kartik Sharma.
In contrast, Mumbai Indians, the league’s most successful franchise with five titles, had limited room for manoeuvre, heading into the auction with just Rs 2.75 crore. While this restricted their spending, MI still managed to add experience by signing Quinton de Kock for Rs 1 crore.
With the auction now complete, franchises will turn their focus to striking the right balance between star power and squad depth as preparations begin for the IPL 2026 season.
IPL Abu Dhabi Auction 2026 Today HIGHLIGHTS: Here is our coverage recap of the bidding war that unfolded in Abu Dhabi
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE: Josh Inglis to SRH for 8.6 crore
Josh Inglis goes to SRH for 8.6 crore
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE: Jordan Cox to RCB for Rs 75 lakh
RCB rope in Josh Inglis for Rs 75 lakh.
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE: Ben Dwarshuis goes to PBKS for Rs 4.4 crore
Australia allrounder Ben Dwarshuis goes to PBKS for Rs 4.4 crore.
Again a few unsold players in a row- Ruchit Ahir, Sanvir Singh, Akash Madhwal, Akash Madhwal
Ruchit Ahir, Sanvir Singh, Akash Madhwal, Akash Madhwal, none find a buyer.
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE: Atharva Taide goes UNSOLD
No interest from any franchise. Taide is UNSOLD. Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Kamesh Nagarkoti also go UNSOLD.
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE: Rahul Chahar to CSK for 5.2 crore
Rahul Chahar to CSK for 5.2 crore
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE: Rahul Chahar garnering some serious interest
Base price of Rs 1 crore, CSK and PBKS go after him. Current bid at Rs 4.60 crore.
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE: Spencer Johnson goes UNSOLD
No takers for Spencer Johnson.
IPL 2026 Auction LIVE- Matt Henry returns to CSK
Men in Yellow pick the Kiwi pacer for Rs 2 crore.
IPL 2026 Auction- No takers for Jamie Smith
No one raises the paddle for Jamie Smith.
KKR rope in Akash Deep
Akash Deep returns to KKR for Rs 1 crore.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Rachin Ravindra goes to KKR
Rachin Ravindra goes to KKR for Rs 2 crore.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: No takers for Deepak Hooda
No one bids for Deepak Hooda.
Livingstone fetches Rs 11 crore. He goes to SRH.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Prithvi Shaw UNSOLD for the second time
No takers for Prithvi Shaw.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Prithvi Shaw UNSOLD for the second time
No bids for Prithvi once again.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Jake Fraser-McGurk UNSOLD again
No takers for Jake Fraser-McGurk
Second accelerated round starts: Sarfaraz Khan goes to CSK for Rs 75 lakh
Sarfaraz Khan returns to the IPL. He will don the Yellow.
Second accelerated round starts in a bit
The second accelerated round will begin in just a bit. It has been one action-packed ride at the auction.
No one bids for Manusankar Murasingh
Manusankar Murasingh remains unsold
KKR rope in Ranjan, Kamra
Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra both go to KKR for Rs 30 lakh.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Jikku Bright finds no takers
Kerala’s Jikku Bright goes UNSOLD
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Ayush Vartak finds no bid
No one bids for Ayush Vartak.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Karan Lal, Utkarsh Singh go UNSOLD
No one bids for Karan Lal or Utkarsh Singh.
Wow! More unsold players than sold ones in the accelerated list as is usually the case in this part of the auction.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Tanay Thyagarajan, Dheeraj Kumar, Irfan Umair, Connor Esterhuizen go UNSOLD
Tanay Thyagarajan, Dheeraj Kumar, Irfan Umair, Connor Esterhuizen go UNSOLD
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: UNSOLD players aplenty Riley Meredith
Dan Lawrence, Richard Gleeson and Taskin Ahmed or Riley Meredith.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Cooper Connolly to PBKS
Cooper Connolly sold to PBKS for Rs 3 crore.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: No one bids for M Ashwin, Tejas Baroka, KC Cariappa
No one bids for M Ashwin. He remains UNSOLD. So does Tejas Baroka or KC Cariappa.
IPL 2026 Auction Sold/Unsold Players List LIVE: Mohammad Izhar to MI for Rs 30 lakh
Mohammad Izhar goes to MI for Rs 30 lakh.
