The squads for the Indian Premier League 2026 season are locked in as the IPL mini-auction concluded on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.
There was plenty of drama and a handful of surprises at Tuesday's auction. Going into the auction, Cameron Green was always going to be the most-sought-after player, and the Australian all-rounder sparked a bidding battle before Kolkata Knight Riders roped him for Rs. 25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in league history.
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Chennai Super Kings, who have relied on stalwarts so far, veered their strategy to start investing in young talent. The five-time champions spent Rs. 14.20 crore each on Karthik Sharma and Prashant Veer, the highest price uncapped players had ever attracted in the auction.
While big bucks drew the attention, there were also some shrewd moves made on the auction table.
Value picks at IPL 2026 auction
Quinton de Kock - Mumbai Indians for Rs. 1 crore
The wicketkeeper-batsman from South Africa dropped his base price to Rs. 1 crore to enter the auction. He was reunited with former team Mumbai Indians, with whom he won titles in 2019 and 2020.
Not just an explosive top-order batter, but also brings a wealth of experience, having played for six teams in the league. In 115 IPL matches, de Kock has scored 3309 runs at a strike rate of 134.02.
Wanindu Hasaranga - Lucknow Super Giants for Rs. 2 crore
LSG picked up the Sri Lankan all-rounder for base price. Though injuries have set him back in recent years, the 28-year-old can provide the firepower lower down the order and is an effective leg-break bowler.
He's also a proven entity in IPL. In 2022, Hasaranga helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Qualifier 2, taking 26 wickets, which was then a franchise record for most wickets in a season.
Sarfaraz Khan - Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 75 lakh
Sarfaraz comes from the Mumbai school of batting, technical and can turn on the heat when needed. One of the most under-rated players, the 28-year-old served another reminder in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament when he scored 100 off just 47 balls, when playing for Mumbai against Assam earlier this month.
He has also worked on his fitness in recent months and is looking to revive his IPL and international career. Though Sarfaraz has played for three teams in the league -- Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings and RCB-- he hasn't got an extended stint yet.
After going unsold in the first round, he was picked by CSK for base price.
David Miller - Delhi Capitals for Rs. 2 crore
One of the hardest-hitting batters, the left-handed Miller can be an asset for any team. Once the face of Punjab Kings, the South African has moved around a fair bit and knows the ebbs and flows of the league well.
He has scored 350+ runs in a season thrice -- the best was 481 runs in 2022, when he played a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans lifting the trophy in debut season. The 36-year-old, who has scored 3077 runs in 141 IPL matches, was picked up for base price by Delhi Capitals.
Ashok Sharma - Gujarat Titans for Rs. 90 lakh
The 23-year-old is yet to get his big IPL break. He served as a net bowler for Rajasthan Royals and was part of Kolkata Knight Riders squad in 2022.
Once a pacer who sacrificed accuracy for pace, Sharma has started harnessing his talent a lot better now. He still consistently clocks over 140kph and was the leading wicket-taker in the league stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He claimed 19 wickets in seven matches. His base price was set at Rs 30 lakh, but after some interest from franchises, Titans snapped him up for Rs 90 lakh.
Related links:
- Who were the biggest gainers at IPL 2026 auction?
- IPL 2026 auction: Most expensive overseas players
- IPL 2026 auction: Most expensive Indian players