IPL 2026: Which player will earn big in auction?

A total of 350 players are shortlisted for the IPL 2026 auction.

There is excitement everywhere as the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) auction approaches, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. The BCCI has already shortlisted the players who will appear in the auction.

All 10 teams will engage in a bidding war as they look to fill the remaining 77 spots, including 31 overseas slots. KKR will enter the auction with the biggest purse of ₹64.3 crore, giving them the most flexibility at the auction table and the option to bid big on some key players.

Several players are expected to earn big money this year due to their current form and the specific needs of their teams. On that note, let’s take a look at the players who are likely to fetch big bids in the mini-auction.

Cameron Green

Many teams will be after the Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. He had missed the 2025 mega-auction due to an injury and is set to make his IPL comeback this year.

Green has previously represented the Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and his IPL numbers for both teams have been phenomenal.

In 29 IPL matches, he has accumulated 707 runs at an average of over 40 and a strike rate above 150. He is also a handy bowler who can provide a medium-pace option in the middle overs. Green’s versatility, being able to open or bat in the middle order, gives teams multiple options.

His all-round skills are expected to attract heavy bidding, and he is likely to go big in the auction. However, according to the new IPL rules, no overseas player can earn more than 18 crores, which was the highest retention slab before the 2025 mega-auction.

This rule was introduced after teams complained that some overseas players were only entering the mini-auction to earn a big amount. If a player’s bid exceeds 18 crore rupees, the extra amount will be taken by the BCCI and used for the welfare of the players.

Matheesha Pathirana

Another player who can earn a big amount is the Sri Lankan pace bowler Matheesha Pathirana. Chennai Super Kings shockingly released him before the IPL 2026 auction.

Pathirana has already established himself as one of the most effective death bowlers in T20 cricket. His slingy action, reminiscent of the great Lasith Malinga, makes him extremely difficult to pick. He picked up 13 wickets in the last edition, and overall, he has 47 wickets in 32 matches at an economy of 8.68.

Many teams have struggled in the death overs in recent seasons, and with Pathirana entering the auction, a bidding war is almost guaranteed. Teams would love to have a proven match-winning death-overs specialist in their squad

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