IPL 2026 Auction: Top five big names who might go unsold

The IPL 2026 auction is scheduled to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) auction is set to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Unlike the previous season, this year the event is set to be a one-day event. All ten teams have retained their favourite players ahead of the auction.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the highest remaining purse value for the auction, with INR 64.3 crore left. Mumbai Indians (MI) have the lowest purse with just INR 2.75 Crores left.

A total of 350 players are set to go under the hammer in Abu Dhabi, with some huge names up for grabs. On the other hand, some big players might go unsold in this auction.

Due to their recent poor form with both bat and ball, and below-average performance in the last few IPL seasons, these players are unlikely to attract any bids from teams. On that note, let’s take a look at the top names who might go unsold.

5- Anrich Nortje – South Africa

Veteran pacer Anrich Nortje was part of KKR in the IPL 2025 season but managed to play just two games. Nortje picked just one wicket in what was a largely disappointing campaign. The 32-year-old has based himself at INR 2 Crores and will be looking to find suitors during the upcoming auction.

Nortje’s recent form hasn’t been much to speak about as he went wicketless in the first T20I against India recently. The right-arm fast bowler also picked just three wickets from five domestic T20 games while playing for the Dolphins in the CSA T20 challenge.

4- David Miller – South Africa

Yet another big-name who could go unsold in the IPL 2026 auction is none other than veteran batter David Miller. The left-handed batter was part of the Lucknow Super Giants last season and played 11 matches in the 2025 season. Miller scored just 153 runs, with a best score of 27 not out and a strike-rate of 127.

Miller hasn’t played much cricket in recent times and made his return in the recent T20I series against India, where he scored just one run in the first encounter. Miller was known for his powerful hitting, but his form has declined, and teams might consider letting him go when his name comes up in the auction.

3- Ravi Bishnoi – India

Ravi Bishnoi, once considered the next spin prodigy, has now dropped from the Indian team. The 25-year-old has fallen off the radar thanks to his flat performances with the ball. Ravi played 11 games for Lucknow last season and picked nine wickets with an economy rate of 10.84 runs per over.

The 25-year-old has played seven matches for Gujarat and taken only nine wickets, with an economy rate of nearly nine runs per over in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament. Bishnoi’s penchant to be hit for runs and his dwindling skills with the ball can be major reasons why he could be unsold in the IPL 2026 auction.

2- Wanindu Hasaranga – Sri Lanka  

Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has shown over the years that on his day, he could run through any batting line-up with ease. The 28-year-old player’s performance has declined in recent times, and his spin bowling, which was once considered mysterious, has now become easier to play.

Hasaranga was part of the Rajasthan Royals last season, where he played 11 games and picked 11 wickets with an economy rate of 9 runs per over. The 28-year-old also managed to bag just seven wickets in the recently held T20I tri-series in Pakistan.

1- Venkatesh Iyer – India

Kolkata Knight Riders paid INR 23.75 Crores for Venkatesh Iyer in the IPL 2025 auction after the all-rounder’s amazing show in their title-winning campaign in 2024.

Venkatesh had a season to forget as he managed to score a mere 142 runs from 11 matches with just one fifty and a strike-rate of 139.

In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the 30-year-old scored 111 runs with one half-century and managed to take only two wickets. This is a steep fall for a player who was in the running for a spot in the national side not too long ago.

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