IPL Auction 2026: Green, Iyer in focus as KKR, CSK flex financial muscle

Fast bowling resources will also be under scrutiny, with several teams keen to strengthen their pace attack.

Matheesha Pathirana, released by CSK, could be a tempting target for sides like Lucknow Super Giants, who have Rs 22.95 crore despite concerns around injuries to Mayank Yadav and depth beyond Mohammed Shami. Pathirana’s remodelled action adds intrigue, though whether CSK will attempt to buy him back remains uncertain.

New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy, already established in the T20I circuit and highly rated in ICC rankings, is another name to watch.

Among uncapped Indians, Ashok Sharma stands out after strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

With proven IPL exposure and current form on his side, Sharma could spark competitive bidding, underlining how mini-auctions often throw up unexpected winners alongside marquee stars.

Beyond the marquee all-rounders, England’s Liam Livingstone and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock are expected to attract strong interest.

Livingstone’s power-hitting and part-time spin make him an ideal T20 package, and his demolition of Rashid Khan for 26 runs in a Hundred game remains fresh in scouts’ minds.

De Kock, meanwhile, offers reliability at the top and assured glovework, a combination few teams can ignore. Both could comfortably breach the Rs 9 crore mark.

Among Indian options, uncapped players like Prashant Veer and Mukul Choudhary are likely to draw bids, while Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan will hope their modest base price of Rs 75 lakh works in their favour.

Mini-auctions often reward value picks, and franchises will be alert to bargains amid headline-grabbing bidding wars.

There is considerable buzz that Green could surpass Mitchell Starc’s record Rs 24.75 crore bid to become the most expensive overseas buy in IPL auction history.

However, there is a crucial catch. Even if bidding soars past Rs 25 crore, Green’s salary for the season will still be capped at Rs 18 crore.

This is due to the IPL’s “maximum-fee” rule, which states that a foreign player’s fee at a mini-auction is the lower of the highest retention slab (Rs 18 crore) or the highest price at the previous mega auction (Rs 27 crore for Rishabh Pant).

The inflated bid amount is deducted from a team’s purse but does not translate into higher player earnings.

In contrast, Venkatesh Iyer crossing Rs 10 crore would be seen as fair value after a disappointing season following his Rs 23.75 crore deal.

Pace-bowling all-rounders always fetch a premium at IPL auctions, and this mini-auction is no different.

Green, Venkatesh Iyer and West Indies’ Jason Holder — all entering at the highest base price of Rs 2 crore — headline a shallow market with high demand.

Teams looking for balance prefer players who can bat in the top or middle order and still deliver overs with the new or old ball. That scarcity inflates prices beyond logic.

KKR, in particular, are desperate after releasing Andre Russell, now their “Power Coach”, and need at least two top-order batters and a reliable all-rounder to anchor the rebuild.

CSK, traditionally valuing multi-skill cricketers, are equally keen.

Holder may not generate the same buzz as Green, but his ability to hit long and bowl heavy lengths makes him a low-risk, high-utility option in a mini-auction with limited alternatives.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the IPL Auction 2026.

Cameron Green could emerge as the biggest winner of the mini-auction’s skewed demand-supply dynamics, particularly around seam-bowling all-rounders.

With 77 slots to be filled and a cumulative purse of Rs 237.55 crore, franchises with deep pockets are expected to drive aggressive bidding.

Kolkata Knight Riders (Rs 64.30 crore) and Chennai Super Kings (Rs 43.40 crore) are well placed to dominate the market, while Mumbai Indians, armed with a meagre Rs 2.75 crore, will largely be spectators.

In such a scenario, players who offer versatility become priceless commodities. Green, despite middling IPL numbers of 704 runs and 16 wickets from 29 matches, ticks the boxes franchises crave — power hitting, seam bowling and athleticism in the field.

Mini-auctions are less about past numbers and more about present needs, and an Australian all-format regular like Green is guaranteed traction when teams are ready to overpay to fill specific gaps.