IPL 2026 Auction Analysis: Top Buys, Team Strategies & Key Trends

When and Where Did the Auction Happen?

Most Expensive Buys of IPL 2026 Auction

Key highlights from the top buys

IPL AUCTION TRENDS & TAKEAWAYS

1. Youth Dominated the High-Value Bids

• The two joint-highest Indian buys were uncapped teenagers:
  • Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer at ₹14.2 Cr each
• Multiple uncapped Indians crossed ₹5 Cr+ (Auqib Nabi Dar, Mangesh Yadav)
• In contrast, most capped Indian players were picked at or near base price

2. Uncapped Indians Absorbed the Biggest Indian Spend

• All Indian players sold above ₹5 Cr were uncapped
• Only a handful of capped Indian players crossed ₹2 Cr (Rahul Chahar ₹5.2 Cr, Ravi Bishnoi ₹7.2 Cr, Venkatesh Iyer ₹7 Cr)

• Uncapped batters
• Uncapped all-rounders
• Young Indian pacers

3. Purse Size Directly Influenced Auction Control

• KKR spent ₹63.85 Cr, accounting for ~29.6% of total spend
• MI spent ₹2.2 Cr, the lowest among all franchises
• CSK and DC were among the heaviest spenders after KKR
• SRH finished with the highest remaining purse (₹5.45 Cr)

4. All-Rounders and Fast Bowlers Led the Market

• 6 were all-rounders
• 3 were fast bowlers
• Only 1 specialist spinner featured (Ravi Bishnoi)

• Death overs
• High pace
• Multi-phase usage

5. Clear Mini-Auction Behaviour Across Teams

• Teams targeted specific roles, not full rebuilds
• Once a role was filled, bidding dropped sharply
• Many players passed through unsold due to role saturation, not lack of quality

• Certain players triggered bidding wars
• A long list of experienced names went unsold without contest

Team Strategies and Notable Picks

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

• Entered the auction with a massive ₹43.4 Cr purse and made the boldest call of the day by spending heavily on youth.
• Signed Prashant Veer (20, all-rounder) and Kartik Sharma (19, wicketkeeper-bat) for ₹14.2 Cr each, signaling a clear shift from their long-standing preference for experienced players to a Gen Z rebuild. These buys were aimed at filling long-term gaps left by senior players like Jadeja, who was released to RR.
• Overseas depth was added efficiently with Matt Henry (₹2 Cr), Akeal Hosein (₹2 Cr), and Matthew Short (₹1.5 Cr).
• CSK rounded off their buys with Zak Foulkes (₹75 L), Sarfaraz Khan (₹75 L), and Aman Khan (₹40 L) to build squad depth across roles.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

• DC’s headline move was investing ₹8.4 Cr in Auqib Nabi Dar, backing the uncapped Indian all-rounder as a long-term option with both pace-bowling and finishing potential.
• They strengthened the top order by signing Pathum Nissanka for ₹4 Cr, adding stability and experience against pace.
• DC brought back Prithvi Shaw at ₹75 lakh, a low-risk, high-upside move for a player with proven IPL experience.
• International depth was added efficiently at base price, with David Miller (₹2 Cr) and Ben Duckett (₹2 Cr) adding to the middle order.
• The pace attack was reinforced with experienced overseas bowlers Lungi Ngidi (₹2 Cr) and Kyle Jamieson (₹2 Cr), both picked without entering bidding wars.
• They rounded off their auction by adding Sahil Parakh (₹30 lakh) as an uncapped domestic backup.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

• With a limited purse of ₹12.9 Cr and very few slots to fill, GT stayed disciplined. Their key signing was Jason Holder for ₹7 Cr, adding a proven pace all-rounder to cover or rotate with existing overseas options.
• They added overseas batting depth with Tom Banton (₹2 Cr).
• Domestic pace options were strengthened through Ashok Sharma (₹90 L) and Prithviraj Yarra (₹30 L).
• Left-arm pace cover came in the form of Luke Wood (₹75 L).

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

• Came in with the largest purse (₹64.3 Cr) and used it aggressively. Landed the two biggest names of the auction: Cameron Green (₹25.2 Cr) and Matheesha Pathirana (₹18 Cr), addressing major needs in all-round strength and strike bowling.
• Further reinforced the squad with Mustafizur Rahman (₹9.2 Cr) for death bowling and Tejasvi Dahiya (₹3 Cr) as a young power-hitter. Spent ₹63.85 Cr, nearly 30% of the total auction spend across all teams.
• KKR added international depth with Rachin Ravindra (₹2 Cr), Finn Allen (₹2 Cr), and Tim Seifert (₹1.5 Cr).
• Indian experience came in through Akash Deep (₹1 Cr) and Rahul Tripathi (₹75 L).
• They completed their squad with uncapped backups Daksh Kamra, Sarthak Ranjan, Prashant Solanki, and Kartik Tyagi (all ₹30 L).

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

• LSG’s primary goal was to replace their wicketkeeper-batsman. Secured Josh Inglis for ₹8.6 Cr, a versatile batter who can open or finish innings.
• Invested in domestic batting depth with Mukul Choudhary (₹2.6 Cr) and Akshat Raghuwanshi (₹2.2 Cr). Quietly strengthened pace by signing Anrich Nortje at base price(₹2 Cr) and Wanindu Hasaranga (₹2 Cr).
• LSG added Indian pace depth with Naman Tiwari (₹1 Cr).
• Filled all squad slots and still retained a healthy leftover purse, indicating controlled and future-aware spending.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

• With a very small purse, MI made limited moves, the key one being Quinton de Kock for ₹1 Cr, bringing back the experienced wicketkeeper-batter.
• They filled remaining slots with uncapped domestic players Mayank Rawat, Atharva Ankolekar, Mohammad Izhar, and Danish Malewar (all ₹30 L).
• MI clearly prioritised backing their retained core over auction aggression.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

• Fresh off a runner-up finish in 2025, PBKS resisted the urge to make major changes. Their biggest buy was Ben Dwarshuis for ₹4.4 Cr, added as pace backup.
• Signed young all-rounder Cooper Connolly for ₹3 Cr, banking on his age-group and BBL performances. The squad was completed with Vishal Nishad (₹30 L) and Pravin Dubey (₹30 L).
• PBKS avoided bidding wars and left the auction with money in hand, reflecting confidence in squad stability.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

• As defending champions, RCB came in with specific targets rather than broad needs. Finally acquired Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 Cr, a player they had chased unsuccessfully the previous year at much higher prices.
• They backed raw pace by signing Mangesh Yadav for ₹5.2 Cr.
• Overseas pace depth was added through Jacob Duffy (₹2 Cr).
• Squad depth was completed with Jordan Cox (₹75 L) and uncapped players Kanishk Chouhan, Vihaan Malhotra, Vicky Ostwal, and Satvik Deswal (₹30 L each).

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

• RR entered the auction needing to rebuild their spin attack after key departures. Secured Ravi Bishnoi for ₹7.2 Cr, beating multiple teams in a competitive bidding war.
• Strengthened pace with Adam Milne for ₹2.4 Cr as injury cover for Archer and Kuldeep Sen (₹75 L) for pace support.
• They invested in domestic bowling depth with Ravi Singh (₹95 L) and Sushant Mishra (₹90 L).
• Additional uncapped options included Brijesh Sharma, Aman Rao Perala, Vignesh Puthur, and Yash Raj Punja (all ₹30 L).
• Spent almost their entire purse, clearly prioritising bowling depth, especially spin.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

• Started slowly despite having the third-largest purse at ₹25.5 Cr. Made one major signing in Liam Livingstone for ₹13 Cr, adding power-hitting and an extra bowling option.
• Focused heavily on uncapped Indian pacers, signing multiple young seamers at base price. Added Jack Edwards (₹3 Cr) to strengthen the lower middle order.
• Domestic batting depth was strengthened through Salil Arora (₹1.5 Cr).
• Experience was added with Shivam Mavi (₹75 L).
• SRH filled the rest of their squad with uncapped players Krains Fuletra, Praful Hinge, Amit Kumar, Onkar Tarmale, Sakib Hussain, and Shivang Kumar (₹30 L each).
• Failed to land a marquee spinner or all-rounder despite aggressive bidding, and finished with the highest leftover purse (₹5.45 Cr).

Overall Summary

SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ & REACTIONS on IPL Auction

Cameron Green and the ₹25 Cr Moment

• “Ambani-level money” jokes flooded X as KKR’s bids climbed
• Shocked reaction GIFs resurfaced every time the price crossed a new crore mark
• Green’s name trended heavily on Google India within hours of the auction

CSK’s “Dad’s Army to Gen Z” Shift

• The phrase “Dad’s Army to Gen Z” quickly caught on across platforms
• Fans imagined MS Dhoni mentoring the next generation, while others worried about pressure on uncapped players
• Memes featuring Dhoni alongside Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer summed up the curiosity and optimism

MI, Sarfaraz, and Uncapped Millionaires

• Mumbai Indians’ limited spending initially drew light-hearted reactions, before sentiment shifted toward trust in long-term planning and the value of the Quinton de Kock signing
• Sarfaraz Khan’s ₹75 lakh move to CSK sparked renewed discussion around consistency, opportunity, and how domestic performers are valued at auctions
• Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma becoming crorepatis overnight stood out as one of the auction’s most positive narratives, highlighting the IPL’s ability to transform careers in a single evening

Auction Big Misses: Notable Unsold Players

High-Profile Players Who Went Unsold

POST-AUCTION SNAPSHOT

• 77 players sold | ₹215.45 Cr total spend
• 29 overseas | 48 Indian players
• SRH left the most money | DC spent almost everything

Final Word