The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Mini-Auction, held in Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena, witnessed an unprecedented surge in player valuations and record-breaking deals. With 77 slots to fill across ten franchises and a combined purse of over Rs. 237 crore, the auction was a battleground for top overseas all-rounders and emerging Indian talent. A total of 369 players were shortlisted, with teams focusing on strategic reinforcements rather than complete squad overhauls.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged as the biggest spenders, securing Cameron Green for a staggering Rs. 25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. They also acquired Matheesha Pathirana for Rs. 18 crore. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) made significant investments in uncapped Indian players, signing Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for Rs. 14.20 crore each, setting a new benchmark for domestic talent.
Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired Liam Livingstone for Rs. 13 crore, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured Venkatesh Iyer for Rs. 7 crore. Lucknow Super Giants bolstered their lineup with Josh Inglis (Rs. 8.60 crore) and Anrich Nortje (Rs. 2 crore). Gujarat Titans signed Jason Holder for Rs. 7 crore, and Mumbai Indians made a shrewd acquisition of Quinton de Kock at his base price of Rs. 1 crore. Rajasthan Royals strengthened their spin attack by securing Ravi Bishnoi for Rs. 7.20 crore.
The auction also highlighted the immense value placed on young Indian talent, with Delhi Capitals investing Rs. 8.40 crore in pacer Auqib Nabi Dar. Some established names like Devon Conway and Michael Bracewell initially went unsold, but players like Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan found teams in the accelerated rounds.
