IPL 2026 Auction: Complete Player List & Base Prices
The IPL 2026 auction is set to feature 359 players, including 245 Indian stars and 114 overseas cricketers, competing for 77 available slots across 10 franchises. This year’s mini-auction on December 16 promises an exciting mix of established T20 performers and promising young talent, with marquee players like Steve Smith and Quinton de Kock drawing attention.
Total Players and Registration Highlights
A total of 1,390 players initially registered for the IPL 2026 auction. This list was narrowed to 1,005 before the final 350 were shortlisted to vie for spots across the ten teams. Later, nine additional players were added, including South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, who joined the auction at a base price of Rs 1 crore. Notably, India-born Big Bash League (BBL) player Nikhil Chaudhary’s status changed from Indian to overseas.
Marquee Players and Base Prices
The auction list features high-profile cricketers with base prices set as follows:
Rs 2 Crore Base Price Players
Steve Smith (Australia)
Cameron Green (Australia)
Devon Conway (New Zealand)
David Miller (South Africa)
Venkatesh Iyer (India)
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Liam Livingstone (England)
Other Notable Capped Players
Rs 1.5 Crore: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Spencer Johnson (Australia)
Rs 1.25 Crore: Beau Webster (Australia), Roston Chase (West Indies)
Rs 1 Crore: Quinton de Kock (South Africa), Rahul Chahar (India), Tabraiz Shamsi (South Africa)
Rs 75 Lakh: Prithvi Shaw (India), Sarfaraz Khan (India), Deepak Hooda (India), Mayank Agarwal (India)
Overseas Stars to Watch
The auction includes notable international talents:
Australia: Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Jake Fraser-McGurk
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, David Miller
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Michael Bracewell
England: Liam Livingstone, Ben Duckett, Tom Curran
These players are expected to draw high bids given their T20 experience and IPL performance records.
Uncapped Players and Emerging Talent
The auction also highlights rising stars, including:
Rs 50 Lakh: Mahipal Lomror, Tushar Deshpande, Yash Dayal
Rs 40 Lakh: Rajvardhan Hangargekar, K.M. Asif, Nikhil Chaudhary
Rs 30 Lakh: Yash Dhull, Abhinav Manohar, Aarya Desai, Anmolpreet Singh
This mix ensures teams can invest in both established performers and high-potential uncapped talent for long-term strategies.
Indian Batting Powerhouses in the Auction
Key Indian Batsmen
Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Mayank Agarwal, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda
Young Indian Talents
Yash Dhull, Abhinav Manohar, Anmolpreet Singh, Kartik Sharma, Tushar Raheja
These players bring a blend of experience and youth, strengthening team batting line-ups.
Indian Pacers and All-Rounders
Prominent Bowlers
Umesh Yadav, Shubham Kapse, Navdeep Saini, Ravi Bishnoi, Shreyas Chavan
Emerging All-Rounders
Shivam Mavi, Akash Deep, Tushar Deshpande, Suyash Prabhudessai
The mix of pace, spin, and all-round ability makes the IPL 2026 auction crucial for teams seeking balance.
IPL 2026Teams’ Purse Details
Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will enter the auction with the highest purse of Rs 64.3 crores. Chennai Super Kings (CSK), five-time IPL winners, have a purse of Rs 43.4 crores, while Sunrisers Hyderabad holds Rs 25.5 crores. These budgets will significantly influence bidding strategies, especially for marquee players.
Auction Strategy and Market Predictions
Teams are expected to target marquee overseas players such as Steve Smith and Quinton de Kock early in the auction. Simultaneously, franchises will focus on securing promising uncapped Indian talents to build a sustainable squad for IPL 2026. With a combination of big-money signings and strategic picks, the mini-auction will shape the dynamics of the upcoming IPL season.
Conclusion
The IPL 2026 auction promises excitement for fans, franchises, and players alike. With 359 cricketers, including marquee names, uncapped talent, and emerging stars, the mini-auction on December 16 will set the stage for the 19th edition of the IPL 2026. Teams’ purse sizes and strategic bidding will play a crucial role in shaping their 2026 campaigns. Fans can expect a highly competitive and thrilling auction that lays the foundation for another spectacular T20 season.

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