IPL 2026 Auction: Top five oldest players to feature in bidding war

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

Many teams often prefer to buy young players in auctions, as they view them as future investments; sometimes, investing in experienced players is not a bad option either. The seasoned players bring experience to the team, which helps the side develop a mix of freshness and expertise.

With less than a week remaining in the IPL 2026 auction, teams are getting geared up with their strategies for the battle before their teams get on the ground. A total of 359 players will go under the hammer in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

However, in this article, we will take a look at the top five oldest players to feature in the auction.

5. Dwaine Pretorius: 36 years and 258 days

South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius, who has previously been a part of the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, has set his base price to INR 1 crore in the 2026 auction.

The Proteas star can be a valuable addition to the bowling attack, and he can also help the team with adding batting depth in the lower order.

Pretorius has played a total of seven matches in his brief IPL career, taking six wickets and scoring 44 runs. However, it remains to be seen if CSK attempts to rebuy the South African all-rounder or if he finds a new home in the Indian Premier League.

4. Richard Gleeson: 38 years and 9 days

Former Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings bowler Richard Gleeson aims to return to IPL action, as he will wait for a bid with a base price of INR 75 lakh. The Englishman has proved himself as a prolific medium-fast bowler across different T20I leagues in the world.

Famously, he made his T20 international debut for England against India in 2022, where he dismissed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant in his initial eight deliveries.

Gleeson has made an image of a late bloomer and has also managed to live up to the portrait. In his three appearances in the IPL, the Englishman has taken two wickets.

3. Umesh Yadav: 38 years and 47 days

Often seen as one of the most resilient Indian players, Umesh Yadav‘s consistency and fitness have been praiseworthy. The right-arm fast bowler has been a part of Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders throughout his career in the IPL.

Last year, Yadav went unsold in the auction due to an injury; however, the 38-year-old looks ready to return to the pitch. In 148 matches in the league, the pacer has taken 144 wickets, with his best spell being 4/23, which came in 2022 against the Punjab Kings during his time at the KKR. Umesh Yadav has a base price of INR 1 crore for the 2026 auction.

2. Karn Sharma: 38 years and 49 days

Karn Sharma can become a game-changer for any team in pressure situations. In addition to that, the right-arm leg-break bowler also offered a great deal of experience, as he has played for the likes of Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

In 90 matches across all the seasons since his debut in 2009, Sharma has taken 83 wickets in the IPL. Karn Sharma is set to go under the hammer for the 2026 IPL auction in Abu Dhabi for a base price of INR 30 lakh.

1. Jalaj Saxena: 38 years and 361 days

Indian all-rounder Jalaj Saxena is set to be the oldest player to go under the hammer in the IPL 2026 auction. At 39, Saxena has nearly two decades of experience playing in the Ranji Trophy, as well as representing India-A.

While he has played in the domestic championships for Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Maharashtra, Saxena can be a reliable all-rounder for any team in the fast-paced format. The 39-year-old has also served a brief stint in IPL, playing one match for Punjab Kings during the 2021 season.

Saxena, who also has a BCCI Level-3 coaching certificate, is also the first player in history to score 6000 runs and take 400 wickets in the Ranji Trophy. Jalaj Saxena has a base price of INR 40 lakh for the auction.

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