The IPL 2026 auction will feature 359 shortlisted players, including 246 Indians and 113 overseas names. Out of these, 114 are capped players, while the rest consist of 230 uncapped Indians and 15 uncapped overseas players. In total, 1,390 players had registered before the list was trimmed down.
There will be players from 10 overseas nations. England has the largest overseas group with 21 players, followed closely by Australia with 20. Jalaj Saxena, aged 39, will be the oldest player in the auction, while Afghanistan’s Wahidullah Zadran, just over 18, will be the youngest.
Each franchise can have up to 25 players, with a combined total of 77 slots available across all teams. This will be the third consecutive year the auction is held outside India, following Dubai in 2024 and Jeddah in 2025. Abu Dhabi will host the 2026 event on December 16.
A total of 173 players were retained ahead of the auction, including 49 overseas cricketers. All teams together will have a purse of ₹237.55 crore to spend. Punjab Kings retained the most players with 21, while Gujarat Titans retained 20.
Kolkata Knight Riders enter the auction with the biggest purse of ₹64.3 crore and space for 13 signings, including six overseas slots. Chennai Super Kings follow with ₹43.4 crore to fill nine positions. Mitchell Starc remains the most expensive overseas signing, bought by KKR for ₹24.75 crore in 2024.
Top Players To Watch In The IPL 2026 Auction
Cameron Green
Australia’s Cameron Green is expected to be the most expensive name in the IPL 2026 auction. He missed the previous IPL season due to injury but remains one of the best T20 all-round talents. In the 2023 season, he averaged 50.22 with a strike rate above 160, and he scored 255 runs with 10 wickets in 2024. For 2026, he has registered as a pure batter, which puts him earlier in the auction order when teams have the most money. He could easily cross ₹20 crore.
Matheesa Pathirana
Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesa Pathirana is another major name. He was surprisingly released and is expected to be the most wanted death-overs bowler. He is known for sharp yorkers and pressure control. Teams that struggled in the final overs, such as Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and possibly CSK, are expected to chase him.
Ravi Bishnoi
Among Indian players, Ravi Bishnoi may become the most expensive domestic buy. The leg-spinner performs best when a team backs him fully. Kolkata Knight Riders might want him for a strong spin trio. CSK could target him as a successor to the Jadeja-Ashwin era. Sunrisers Hyderabad may want him for extra spin support. Rajasthan Royals, who released Hasaranga and Theekshana, could also bid heavily.
Venkatesh Iyer
Indian batter Venkatesh Iyer is also expected to attract solid attention. Iyer has been inconsistent and hasn’t bowled much lately, but teams still like his ability to steady the middle order. KKR could bring Iyer back at a balanced price.
Liam Livingstone
Liam Livingstone is also expected to be a major target. His season with RCB last year was difficult, but teams need lower-order hitters who can also bowl. He was bought for ₹8.75 crore last season and remains one of the most valuable all-round options in the auction.
Top Uncapped Players To Watch In The IPL 2026 Auction
Auqib Nabi
Fast bowler Auqib Nabi Dar from Jammu and Kashmir has become one of the most talked-about names after taking 15 wickets in seven matches with good control and swing. His strong first-class record and multiple trial calls from franchises make him a major attraction among Indian pacers.
Anmolpreet Singh
Punjab’s Anmolpreet Singh has produced one of his best domestic seasons with 241 runs at a strike rate of 172, placing him just behind Abhishek Sharma in his team’s scoring charts. After short earlier spells with SRH and MI, he now enters the auction as one of the most in-form uncapped Indian batters.
Ashok Sharma
Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma has finished the league stage as the leading wicket-taker with 19 wickets in seven matches. His pace, close to 140 kmph, along with previous experience in IPL squads, puts him in a strong position to be picked again at the 2026 auction.
FAQs
Q. Is Maxwell playing in IPL 2026?
A. Glenn Maxwell is not playing in IPL 2026. He did not register for the IPL 2026 auction, ending his run of 13 straight seasons.
Q. Will Andre Russell play IPL in 2026?
A. Andre Russell is not playing in IPL 2026.
Q. Will Virat Kohli play for RCB in 2026?
A. Virat Kohli will play for RCB in 2026. RCB retained 17 players, including Kohli, for the IPL 2026 season.
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