IPL 2026 Auction: Top five best uncapped players to go under the hammer

The IPL 2026 auction will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

The auction for the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League is just a few days away. The event is scheduled to be held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. Out of 1390 players registering for the auction, 350 players have been shortlisted to go under the hammer.

This list includes 240 Indian players (230 uncapped) and 110 international players (15 uncapped). There are 77 slots available to grab among 10 franchises. Teams featuring good uncapped Indian players tend to perform well in the competition.

Uncapped players prove to be effective at a lower budget and increase the team’s bench strength. Some good domestic Indian players will be available in this year’s auction. Below, we will talk about the top five uncapped Indian players at the IPL 2026 auction.

5. Salman Nazir

Salman Nazir made headlines for his spectacular season in the Kerala Cricket League 2025. He finished the season as one of the top scorers for his team, Calicut Globstars. He scored 296 runs in six innings at an average of 98.67 and a strike rate of 193.46.

But he etched into the record books with a special feat when he slammed 11 sixes in 12 balls against Adani Trivandrum Royals.

He scored 86 off 26 balls in that game. His ability to clear the rope and change gears, playing in the middle order, is something some IPL teams need, and he can be a good buy at the IPL 2026 auction.

4. Auqib Nabi

The 29-year-old pacer from Jammu and Kashmir, Auqib Nabi, made headlines when he ended the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 first round as the second-highest wicket-taker, taking 29 wickets in five games.

He later performed brilliantly in the ongoing SMAT 2025-26, taking 15 wickets in 7 matches in the first round with an economy rate of 7.41. Nabi can swing the ball with good pace and is a wicket-taker.

A few IPL franchises have approached him for trials, and he is certainly on the radar for a few teams at the IPL 2026 auction.

3. Ashok Sharma

Ashok Sharma of Rajasthan has been a major reason why his team has managed to qualify for the knockout stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26. He has finished the league stage with the most wickets and has 20 wickets in 8 games at a strike rate of 9.

Ashok bowls with a heavy ball and consistently delivers at speeds exceeding 140 km/h. He has been part of both RR and KKR squads, but hasn’t had the opportunity to play a match yet. However, he has been called for trials by some IPL teams, including the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

2. Salil Arora

An Indian wicket-keeper with the ability to strike big is always a great pick for the franchises. Punjab’s Salil Arora comes with all these ingredients. The 23-year-old has been on fire in the SMAT 2025-26.

In 7 innings, he has scored 298 runs, including a 39-ball century against Jharkhand. He bats in the middle order and can be a good finisher, which is something many teams look for.

1. Anmolpreet Singh

Punjab has some excellent batters emerging from the ranks, including Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, and others. Anmolpreet Singh is surely one of them. The 27-year-old has played for MI and SRH in the IPL. But his earlier numbers didn’t do justice to his ability.

But he is performing quite well in SMAT 2025-26. He has scored 264 runs at a strike rate of 167.08. Singh knows what it takes to perform on a big stage like the IPL, and he will enter the IPL 2026 auction in good form.

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