The IPL’s auction buzz is officially underway again, and this time the numbers feel bigger, louder and a bit wilder. With 1,355 players registering for the IPL 2026 mini-auction, chatter across teams already suggests one name is attracting more attention than anyone else: Australia’s Cameron Green.
A Record List and One Name Everyone Keeps Talking About
The long list includes more than a thousand hopefuls, but only a tiny fraction will actually make it to team jerseys.
Green, who skipped the 2025 mega-auction due to injury, has returned as the most in-demand overseas option in the entire roster.
One quick line here: Teams have circled him in red, metaphorically and probably literally.
The mini-auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, carries just 77 open slots across all franchises. With each team allowed a maximum squad size of 25, the math makes the event extremely competitive — and a bit ruthless.
Franchises will officially receive the final tally today, but the early reports have already fuelled enough speculation for the week.
Purse Balances Hint at a Fight for Green
The two teams carrying the heaviest ammunition into the auction room are Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.
KKR has ₹64.3 crore left, giving them significant firepower to go after the names they want most. CSK, sitting with ₹43.4 crore, is also well-positioned to join the bidding war.
A short single-sentence moment: Both teams know Green changes matches.
Analysts say Green’s value lies in his versatility — big hitting in the middle order, pace bowling, and fielding that can swing tight games. That combination makes franchises spend aggressively.
The auction often mirrors a stock market spike — one or two names push the tempo, influencing buying behaviour for all other slots. This year, Green seems to be that spark.
Here’s a quick bullet point that captures the mood around him:
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Franchises look at Green as a multi-format asset who can anchor, attack and bowl crucial overs.
Whether he becomes the most expensive player of the 2026 auction will depend on how early teams commit their purse.
A Surplus of Players but Scarcity of Indian Big Names
Of the 1,355 registrations, very few Indian players carry top-tier auction value.
Most established Indian stars have been retained, leaving the auction without the usual crowd-pullers that drive bidding momentum.
A single-line pause: Only two Indians have entered the ₹2 crore bracket this time.
One of them is Venkatesh Iyer, KKR’s all-rounder who previously drew significant attention with his batting surges. His fluctuating form has made him a wildcard entry this year, but franchises still rate his finishing ability.
Domestic cricket followers expected more established names to appear in the top reserve bracket, but retentions across franchises have thinned the pool heavily.
This dynamic pushes the focus back onto overseas players — a shift that tends to make the early rounds more explosive.
Overseas Stars Dominate the High-Value Bracket
The overseas roster offers several marquee names capable of triggering intense bidding.
Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana, released by CSK after a ₹13 crore signing in the 2025 mega-auction, will be a name to watch. His unorthodox action and death-bowling ability make him perfect for T20 matchups.
Another sentence here: Teams always chase reliable death bowlers, especially ones who can surprise with pace variations.
England’s Liam Livingstone remains a fan favourite. Bought by RCB for ₹8.75 crore earlier, he had a quiet season by his standards but still holds the reputation of clearing nearly every stadium boundary worldwide.
The unpredictability in form of overseas talents often shapes the middle auction rounds, and this year looks no different.
Below is a table summarizing some of the expected high-interest overseas picks:
| Player | Country | Key Strength | 2025 Team Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Green | Australia | All-rounder, pace, middle-order hitting | Missed 2025 auction (injury) |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Sri Lanka | Death bowling, sling action | Released by CSK |
| Liam Livingstone | England | Power-hitting, spin option | Released by RCB |
| Rashid Khan* | Afghanistan | Spin, finishing ability | Retained (not in auction) |
(*Included for context — not part of auction pool.)
The lineup reveals something clear: the auction will lean heavily on foreign talent to fill key roles across teams.
The Numbers Behind the Auction Frenzy
1,355 players may sound like a massive group, but only 77 will make the final squads.
Of those, a maximum of 31 players can fill the remaining slots across all teams.
One short sentence: That’s where the chaos begins.
Teams have to balance purse savings, squad gaps, uncapped talent and overseas restrictions — all within minutes when the bidding starts. Auction tables often resemble chess boards more than shopping lists.
This year’s pattern suggests more all-rounders, more pacers and fewer specialist batters entering the fray. Teams increasingly prefer versatility, especially in a tournament where one injury can derail a season.
There’s also the strategic crunch around uncapped Indian players, many of whom come at lower base prices but offer surprise value.
Franchises often view these uncapped picks as opportunities to stretch purse value while still building depth.
Indian Talent Still Matters, Even if the Pool Feels Shallow
While top Indian stars aren’t part of this auction, many domestic performers have submitted their names hoping to land backup or rotational roles.
These include finishers, left-arm quicks, middle-order anchors and wicketkeepers — categories where teams usually prefer Indian backups to avoid overseas slot constraints.
A quick one-liner here: Indian depth is what keeps franchises steady through long seasons.
With teams allowed a maximum of eight overseas players, the remaining squad spots automatically elevate the importance of domestic signings.
Even if headline names are missing, scouts and data analysts have likely identified several domestic players who can break into starting elevens this season.
Meanwhile, social media discussions indicate fans are eager to see whether any state-level stars repeat past Cinderella runs — the kind that turn ₹20 lakh base-price players into overnight sensations.
The mini-auction format often produces these moments because teams scramble late when high bids eat into purse balance.
And as always, every franchise believes they can spot the next breakout all-rounder before their rivals do.
