IPL Auction 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders steal the show

Breaking the bank while looking to rebuild from scratch, Kolkata Knight Riders splurged a record-breaking Rs 25.20 crore to rope in Australian allrounder Cameron Green and Rs 18 crore to buy Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana at the IPL mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Overall, the auction saw the 10 teams spend Rs 215.45 crore to buy 77 players, with 369 players going under the hammer.Surpassing compatriot Mitchell Starc (Rs 24.75 crore in 2023), Green became the most expensive overseas player at an IPL auction after KKR prevailed over Chennai Super Kings in a bidding war. However, Green’s salary for the season will be capped at Rs 18 crore, with the excess amount going to the BCCI’s player development programme, as per auction rules for overseas players.

Despite a modest IPL record — 707 runs and 16 wickets in 29 matches for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru — the intense bidding for Green lived up to its pre-auction billing. KKR managing director Venky Mysore said the franchise was "happy" with the price. KKR also bought Tejasvi Dahiya (Rs 3 crore), Finn Allen (Rs 2 crore), Tim Seifert (Rs 1.50 crore), Akash Deep (Rs 1 crore) and Rahul Tripathi (Rs 75 lakh).

Chennai Super Kings splurge on uncapped duoThe 2026 auction turned into a gold rush for uncapped Indian players. In a major shift from their traditional approach, CSK splurged Rs 28.4 crore on Prashant Veer (UP) and Kartik Sharma (Rajasthan), paying Rs 14.2 crore each. Starting at a base price of Rs 30 lakh, the duo became the highest-paid uncapped players in IPL auction history. CSK also bought Rahul Chahar (Rs 5.2 crore), Matt Henry (Rs 2 crore), Akeal Hosein (Rs 2 crore) and Matthew Short (Rs 1.5 crore).

Sarfaraz Khan, initially unsold, was picked up for Rs75 lakh after smashing a 22-ball 73 for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy just before the auction. CSK also added Aman Khan (Rs 40 lakh) and Mukesh Choudhary (Rs 30 lakh). Sunrisers Hyderabad pack more firepowerContinuing their big-hitter philosophy, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Liam Livingstone for Rs 13 crore and Salil Arora for Rs 1.5 crore. They also snapped up Jack Edwards (Rs 3 crore), Shivam Mavi (Rs 75 lakh) and Krains Fuletra (Rs 30 lakh).Delhi Capitals bag Nabi, Miller & Co.Delhi Capitals paid Rs 8.40 crore for Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi, one of the stories of the auction. Prithvi Shaw returned to DC for Rs 75 lakh after going unsold initially. DC also made smart buys, landing David Miller (Rs 2 crore), Pathum Nissanka (Rs 4 crore), Ben Duckett (Rs 2 crore), Kyle Jamieson (Rs 2 crore) and Lungi Ngidi (Rs 2 crore).Rajasthan Royals add spin muscleReleased by LSG, Ravi Bishnoi was snapped up by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 7.2 crore.

Along with Ravindra Jadeja and Vignesh Puthur (Rs 30 lakh), RR now boast a strong spin attack. They also bought Adam Milne (Rs 2.4 crore). Royal Challengers Bangalore finally net Venkatesh IyerAfter missing out previously, RCB landed Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore, a 70.5% pay cut from the Rs 23.75 crore KKR paid last year for him. RCB also paid Rs 5.2 crore for uncapped pacer Mangesh Yadav and roped in New Zealand quick Jacob Duffy for Rs 2 crore. Lucknow Super Giants spend on Josh Inglis, youthLSG shelled out Rs 8.6 crore for Australian ’keeper-batter Josh Inglis, while also investing in uncapped Indians Mukul Choudhary (Rs 2.6 crore), Akshat Raghuwanshi (Rs 2.2 crore) and Naman Tiwary (Rs 1 crore). They also bought Anrich Nortje (Rs 2 crore) and Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs 2 crore). Gujarat Titans bag Holder, rookie pacer Ashok SharmaTitans snapped up Jason Holder (Rs 7 crore), Rajasthan’s rookie pacer Ashok Sharma (Rs 90 lakh), Tom Banton (Rs 2 crore) and Luke Wood (Rs 1 crore).

Ashok was the leading wicket taker in the SMAT league stage. Punjab Kings spend on Aussies with a modest pursePKBS bought Ben Dwarshuis (Rs 4.4 crore) and Cooper Connolly (Rs 3 crore), along with Vishal Nishad and Praveen Dubey (Rs 30 lakh each). Quinton de Kock returns to Mumbai IndiansWith the smallest purse (Rs 2.75 crore), Mumbai Indians brought back Quinton de Kock for Rs 1 crore and added Danish Malewar and Atharva Ankolekar for Rs 30 lakh each.Accelerated round buysPrithvi Shaw (DC) Rs 75 lakhSarfaraz Khan (CSK) Rs 75 lakhTom Banton (GT) Rs 2 croreAdam Milne (RR) Rs 2.4 croreOther notable dealsCooper Connolly (PBKS) Rs 3 croreJack Edwards (SRH) Rs 2 croreDavid Miller (DC) Rs 2 croreKyle Jamieson (DC) Rs 2 croreAnrich Nortje (LSG) Rs 2 croreLungi Ngidi (DC) Rs 2 croreNotable unsoldDevon Conway, Spencer Johnson IPL all-time records:Most expensive overseas player: Cameron Green (Rs 25.2 crore)Most expensive uncapped players: Prashant Veer & Kartik Sharma (Rs 14.2 crore each)Top foreign buysCAMERON GREEN (KKR) 25.2crore (base price Rs 2crore)LIAM LIVINGSTONE (SRH) 13crore (BP Rs 2crore)MATHEESHA PATHIRANA (KKR) 18crore (BP Rs 2crore)MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN (KKR) 9.2crore (BP Rs 2crore)JOSH INGLIS (LSG) 8.6crore (BP 2crore) Day of the uncapped IndiansThere were some big surprises as some of the costliest Indian buys were also uncapped players.PRASHANT RAMENDRA VEER(20 yrs; CSK): Rs 14.2 crore (base price Rs 30 lakh)An allrounder from Amethi in UP, Veer made an impact in the UP T20 this year, scoring 320 runs at a brisk strike rate of 155.34 for Noida Kings. He was also good with the ball, claiming eight wickets in 10 games. A left-hand batter and left-arm spinner, CSK expects him to fill the void left by Ravindra Jadeja. KARTIK SHARMA(19 yrs; CSK): Rs 14.2 crore (BP Rs 30 lakh)A wicketkeeper batter from Rajasthan, Kartik scored a century on Ranji Trophy debut.

But it is his exploits in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament that has grabbed eyeballs. With a strike rate of 163 in the T20 format, CSK would be hoping that Kartik will give their innings the right impetus.AUQIB NABI(29 yrs; DC): Rs 8.4 crore (BP Rs 30 lakh)The pacer from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir has been one of the consistent performers in domestic cricket across formats. With his ability to swing the ball both ways, Nabi can be dangerous with the new ball and DC would be hoping to make early inroads by having him in their ranks. Other costly Indian buysRAVI BISHNOI (25 yrs; RR) Rs 7.2 crore (BP Rs 2 crore)VENKATESH IYER (30 yrs; RCB) Rs 7 crore (BP Rs 2 crore)MANGESH YADAV (23 yrs; RCB) Rs 5.2 crore (BP Rs 30 lakh)RAHUL CHAHAR (26 yrs; CSK) Rs 5.2 crore (BP Rs 1 crore)TEJASVI SINGH (23 yrs; KKR) Rs 3 crore (BP Rs 30 lakh)MUKUL CHOUDHARY (21 yrs; LSG): Rs 2.6 crore (BP Rs 30 lakh)SALIL ARORA (23 yrs; SRH)): Rs 1.5 crore (BP Rs 30 lakh)NAMAN TIWARI (20 yrs; LSG); Rs 1 crore (BP Rs 30 lakh)ASHOK SHARMA (23 yrs; GT); Rs 90 lakh (BP Rs 30 lakh) Sarfaraz, Shaw make the cutAfter going unsold in the initial round of auctions, both Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw were sold in the accelerated round. While Sarfaraz was picked up by CSK at his base price of Rs 75 lakh, Shaw was sold to Delhi Capitals at the same price. Both went unsold in the last auction.