IPL 2026 Auction Review: Why Franchises Backed Uncapped Indians Over Proven Stars
A Record-Breaking Auction in Abu Dhabi
The IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi was a spectacle of strategy, surprises, and shifting priorities. A total of Rs. 215.45 crore was spent on 77 players by the 10 franchises. While overseas stars grabbed headlines, the real story was the rise of uncapped Indian talent, who commanded record-breaking deals and stole the spotlight from established names.
The most expensive player of the auction was Cameron Green, signed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a staggering Rs. 25.20 crore, making him the third-most expensive player in IPL history. But beyond Green’s marquee signing, franchises showed a clear preference for homegrown uncapped players, signaling a new era in IPL talent scouting.
Overseas Firepower: KKR’s Big Bets
KKR dominated the auction table with three of the six most expensive signings:
- Cameron Green (Rs. 25.20 crore) – KKR’s replacement for Andre Russell, combining power-hitting with medium pace.
- Matheesha Pathirana (Rs. 18 crore) – Despite a poor IPL 2025, KKR backed him as a long-term death-overs specialist.
- Mustafizur Rahman (Rs. 9.20 crore) – Adding variety to their pace attack.
KKR also strengthened its domestic pace unit with Akash Deep and Kartik Tyagi, complementing Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Umran Malik.
CSK’s Youth Revolution
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took a radically different approach. After a poor start in IPL 2025, CSK rebuilt around youth, and that philosophy carried into the auction.
- Prashant Veer (Rs. 14.2 crore) – A 20-year-old all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, seen as a long-term replacement for Ravindra Jadeja.
- Kartik Sharma (Rs. 14.2 crore) – A 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, now CSK’s fourth wicketkeeper alongside MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, and Urvil Patel.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming admitted: “We may have been slow to evolve, but halfway through last season we made a big shift. This auction reflects that change.”
Domestic Pacers in Demand
Indian pacers were hot property:
- Auqib Nabi (Rs. 8.4 crore) – Jammu & Kashmir pacer signed by Delhi Capitals, known for his red-ball consistency and death-bowling skills.
- Mangesh Yadav (Rs. 5.20 crore) – Left-arm quick signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, their second-most expensive buy after Venkatesh Iyer (Rs. 7 crore).
This emphasis on domestic pace reflects the IPL’s evolving dynamics, where death bowling and adaptability are prized over reputation.
Big Names Lose Shine
Several established stars struggled to attract bids:
- Liam Livingstone, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Devon Conway – Initially unsold, with Livingstone later picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 13 crore.
- Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan – Both sold at base price (Rs. 75 lakh), highlighting the league’s unforgiving nature.
- Ravi Bishnoi – Retained for Rs. 11 crore by Lucknow Super Giants, but fetched only Rs. 7.2 crore this time.
- Venkatesh Iyer – Price dropped sharply from Rs. 23.75 crore at the mega auction to Rs. 7 crore.
State T20 Leagues: The New Talent Pipeline
A striking feature of IPL 2026 was the dominance of State T20 League graduates.
- Prashant Veer (UP T20 League)
- Akshat Raghuwanshi (MP Premier League)
- Mangesh Yadav (MP T20 League)
- Tejasvi Singh Dahiya (Delhi Premier League)
- Naman Tiwari (UP T20 League)
Franchises spent Rs. 63.45 crore on 32 uncapped Indians, accounting for 72.59% of the total spend on Indian players. This proves that robust scouting networks and state-level performances are now the primary pathways into the IPL.
Key Takeaways: Why Uncapped Indians Were Favored
- Cost-effectiveness – Uncapped players offer high potential at lower risk compared to fading stars.
- Specialist roles – Teams targeted specific skills like death bowling, lower-order hitting, and spin versatility.
- Future investment – Franchises are building squads for longevity, not just immediate impact.
- State leagues as feeders – Strong performances in regional leagues now directly translate into IPL contracts.
Important Players and Their Teams
- Cameron Green (KKR) – Most expensive player of IPL 2026.
- Prashant Veer (CSK) – Highest-paid uncapped Indian, seen as Jadeja’s successor.
- Kartik Sharma (CSK) – Record-breaking uncapped wicketkeeper-batter.
- Auqib Nabi (Delhi Capitals) – J&K pacer making his IPL debut.
- Mangesh Yadav (RCB) – Left-arm pacer strengthening Bengaluru’s bowling.
- Venkatesh Iyer (RCB) – Retained at Rs. 7 crore, still a key all-rounder.
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