ipl 2026 auction There was immense drama in Abu Dhabi on 16 December, with teams spending ₹215.45 crore on 77 players during an intense bidding process. Kolkata Knight Riders Remained in the headlines by breaking records, while franchises like Delhi Capitals And Mumbai Indians Smartly targeted price selection among the purse-conscious market
Cameron Green emerges as most expensive buy in IPL 2026 auction
cameron green Broke the record as the most expensive foreign player ever by joining KKR for ₹25.20 crore after a tough battle with CSK who bid up to ₹25 crore. Sri Lanka‘S Mathisha Pathirana KKR were given ₹18 crore, which underlines their aggressive overseas strategy despite interest from LSG. CSK surprised by uncapped Indians Prashant Veer And Karthik Sharma Each is priced at ₹14.20 crore, the highest for an uncapped purchase and a sign of confidence in homegrown talent. Other major expenses included liam livingstone (SRH, ₹13 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (KKR, ₹9.20 crore), and josh inglis (LSG, ₹8.60 crore), highlighting the all-round demand, sending the total spend skyrocketing.
Top 5 best steal deals from IPL 2026 auction
- David Miller (Delhi Capitals, ₹2 crore)
The South African finishing powerhouse landed his base price without any competitive bid, a major coup for DC after LSG released him after 2025. david miller Scored 3,077 IPL runs in 141 matches at a strike rate of 138.60, which included one century and 13 fifties. Gujarat Titans Vaibhav. At 36, his death-over expertise (average 35.77) strengthens DC’s lower order at a cheap price.
- Akeal Hosein (Chennai Super Kings, ₹2 crore)
CSK bought West Indies left arm spinner for the first time Akil Hossein At the base price, ideal for the spin-friendly Chepauk after SRH’s lonely outing last season. Hosein’s accuracy thrives in T20 leagues like the PSL and BBL, providing control and variety to CSK’s attack. This steal boosts their spin depth without the auction frenzy
- Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians, ₹1 crore)
Despite a stellar 2025 KKR tenure (152 runs in 8 games), MI used half of their purse of ₹2.75 crore to reacquire the explosive opener at the base price. quinton de kockHis IPL legacy shines with over 3,300 runs, two centuries and key roles in MI’s 2019-2020 titles. His powerplay aggression and keeping skills add left-handed balance in a limited budget
- Prithvi Shaw (Delhi Capitals, ₹75 lakh)
After going unsold twice and missing out on IPL 2025 altogether, DC recalled the dasher in the third round at a base price. Prithvi ShawDespite a recent domestic resurgence, his 1,892 IPL runs at a strike rate of 147.46 highlight his explosive opening ability. DC acquires high-risk, high-reward top-ranked talent on the cheap
- Wanindu Hasaranga (Lucknow Super Giants, ₹2 crore)
The Sri Lankan leg-spin allrounder initially went unsold, before LSG bought him at base price, revamping the spin after release Ravi Bishnoi, Wanindu Hasaranga With 332 T20 wickets at an economy of 17.46 and a batting strike rate of 142.53, he has become a dual-threat player.Rajasthan Royals release. LSG gets a proven T20 specialist from global leagues to provide middle-order stability and wickets
These contrarian mega-buys prove to be a win for smart auctions in the growing IPL market. The franchises prioritized experience and upside over hype, making for interesting 2026 battles in the cash-rich league.
Also read: IPL 2026 auction: Complete list of unsold players including base price