The IPL 2026 mini-auction will be the most exciting in the history of the Indian Premier League. Many players will be included in the auction who will get huge amount of money. Rishabh Pant remains the most expensive player in the history of IPL and Cameron Green could jeopardize his bid.
The article features several cricketers who are part of the revised list of cricketers listed for the upcoming IPL mini-auction. The list includes 359 players with 112 overseas options, and some of them could drain huge amounts of money from the franchise’s purse.
Teams like Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have the most vacancies and also have the most money before the mini-auction. One player from this list was released by Chennai Super Kings themselves to increase their purse.
Here is the list of cricketers who could fetch record-breaking money in the IPL mini-auction:
5. Mathisha Pathirana
Sri Lankan fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana made his IPL debut with Chennai Super Kings and has loved playing for the franchise. Pathirana is known for his unorthodox action and his exceptional control in the death overs.
After playing four seasons in the IPL, Pathirana took 47 IPL wickets. He will be of great importance in the upcoming mini-auction, as many teams are likely to bid on him, who could be a good fit for an overseas fast bowler within the squad.
Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad could be interested in bidding for Mathisha Pathirana. Sunrisers and Knight Riders will be desperate for a quality fast bowling option.
4. Jamie Smith
The English wicketkeeper batsman has opened for England in the shortest format of the game. Smith is known as an explosive batsman for England in all formats of the game. He is known for having a long reach and bringing finesse to his gameplay.
Jamie Smith opens for England in the shortest format of the game and can be useful in the IPL as well. He can be useful for teams like Kolkata Knight Riders, who are looking for an opening batsman as well as a wicketkeeper batsman.
Jamie Smith, although overseas, could be a realistic option for the Knight Riders after bids on Quinton de Kock went waste last season. Additionally, Rahmanullah Gurbaz will also not be in the top spot, and KKR may hope to get a player like Phil Salt at the top.
3. Cooper Connolly
Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly has recently played for Australia in the shortest format and has performed quite well with both bat and ball. Connolly has been a real talent with the bat lower down the order.
Connolly could be one of the spin-bowling all-rounders who can add depth to the teams’ batting line-up, and Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans could be keen on such a catch. Even Sunrisers Hyderabad, which struggled with lower-order batting last season, could make a move towards the Australian side.
2. Pathum Nissanka
Despite registering his name in the IPL several times, the Sri Lankan opening batsman has not been bought in the IPL auction yet. He is one of the few players in the Sri Lankan team who has performed consistently well in recent times.
Nissanka, who is a good cricketer, recently scored his maiden T20I century against Zimbabwe in the tri-series in Pakistan. He was their highest run scorer in the series. Having bought Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka and Kamindu Mendis in the auctions in recent years, Nissanka could be another good pick among the Sri Lankan-origin players.
KKR could once again be on the move, as they are the only shaky team in need of an opening pair, while Delhi Capitals could also be looking for replacements for Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk.
1. Cameron Green
A name that is constantly trending on social media, Cameron Green is currently one of Australia’s finest cricketers in the modern format. On his return to the Caribbean, he scored several half-centuries for the Australian team and announced his return to T20Is.
Green is one of the most useful all-rounders in T20I cricket, as he is a specialist batsman who can be promoted to the upper order and can also be useful in the middle order. Although Green lacks power-hitting skills in the death overs, his size makes him a dangerous batsman once he gets his eyes on the ball.
With every team keen to land the big all-rounder, a potential bidding war is likely to take place between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, both of whom have massive purses.
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