IPL 2026 Auction Wrap: Cameron Green Makes History as KKR Dominates, Uncapped Indians Shine

IPL 2026 Auction Highlights: Cameron Green Creates History as KKR Steal the Show, Uncapped Stars Shine

Written by: Supriya Kadu

Edited by: Pinky Deshmukh

Last Updated: 2025-12-17 11:14:23

Summary: Cameron Green leads the auction, with many uncapped Indian talent grabs a high price; however, many big names go unsold.

The IPL 2026 mini-auction, in Abu Dhabi, on December 16, had record-breaking purchases, surprising team tactics, and players who weren't sold at all. It set the tone for what should be an exciting season.

The biggest headline came when Australian all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas pick in IPL history, with Kolkata Knight Riders spending ₹25.20 crore to secure his services. A change in the early pace of the auction was Green's bidding war, in which several top teams fought hard.

KKR didn’t stop there — they also snapped up Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore, reinforcing their bowling depth for the upcoming season.

Another notable trend was the premium placed on uncapped Indian talent. People were shocked when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) paid ₹14.20 crore for Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma. This made them two of the highest-paid, yet unknown, players in IPL history.

Delhi Capitals acquired Auqib Nabi Dar at ₹8.40 crore, a major rise from his base price, showcasing how franchises are valuing young, native players.

Other standout deals included:

Liam Livingstone (Sunrisers Hyderabad) for ₹13 crore — a strong buy for SRH.

All-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga (Lucknow Super Giants) and Venkatesh Iyer (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) were signed for ₹2 crore and ₹7 crore, respectively.

Quinton de Kock and Ben Duckett are moving to new squads at relatively modest bids, adding experienced firepower to their new sides.

Across the auction, teams collectively spent around ₹215 crore to fill all 77 available slots — a clear signal that every side wants to balance star power with emerging talent.

But not every big name found a bidder. Several established players went unsold, including New Zealand batter Devon Conway, Australian pacer Gus Atkinson, England’s Jamie Smith, and Afghan wrist spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman. The long list of uncapped and released players without buyers shows how competitive this auction was.

This year, all franchises had different strategies. Some teams spent lavishly on major acquisitions and rising players, others chose value or prioritised certain skill sets such as spin or death-over bowling. Now that the auction is over, the focus will shift to how these teams will assemble in training camps ahead of the 2026 IPL season, which begins in March.