IPL auction 2026: Prithvi Shaw third time lucky, Cameron Green smashes records, uncapped players steal spotlight

The IPL Auction 2026 delivered drama, surprises, and record-breaking bids as franchises scrambled to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season. Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana, Ravi Bishnoi, and Venkatesh Iyer were among the biggest names to spark bidding wars, while a few uncapped Indian players emerged as the new crorepatis of the league.

Australia's all-rounder Cameron Green , entering the mini-auction as a specialist batter, ignited a fierce contest between Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings. Eventually, KKR secured him for a staggering ₹25.20 crore , making him the most expensive overseas pick in IPL history. Meanwhile, Chennai Super Kings and KKR made headlines by splashing ₹14.20 crore each on uncapped players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, setting a new benchmark for uncapped buys.

India’s Prithvi Shaw finally found a team after going unsold twice, joining Delhi Capitals at his base price of ₹75 lakh. Other notable buys included South Africa’s powerhouse David Miller (₹2 crore, Delhi Capitals) and Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana (₹18 crore, KKR) , after a tense battle with LSG.

Among capped all-rounders, India’s Venkatesh Iyer drew attention as Royal Challengers Bengaluru acquired him for ₹7 crore, significantly lower than his ₹23.75 crore price last year. Rajasthan Royals picked leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (₹7.2 crore) , while Chennai Super Kings secured Rahul Chahar (₹5.2 crore) .

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) focused on strengthening their domestic core, investing heavily in uncapped Indian talent. They picked Shivang Kumar (₹30 lakh), Salil Arora (₹1.5 crore), Sakib Hussain (₹40 lakh), Onkar Tarmale (₹30 lakh), Amit Kumar (₹30 lakh), Praful Hinge (₹30 lakh), Krains Fuletra (₹30 lakh) , along with overseas all-rounder Liam Livingstone (₹13 crore) , pacer Shivam Mavi (₹75 lakh) , and Australia’s Jack Edwards (₹3 crore) . With these signings, SRH completed a balanced mix of youth and experience, leaving their purse at ₹5.45 crore and filling all player slots for IPL 2026.

Several uncapped talents made headlines for their eye-catching prices. Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi went from a base price of ₹30 lakh to ₹8.40 crore, while UP all-rounder Prashant Veer and Rajasthan’s Kartik Sharma joined the crorepati club at ₹14.20 crore each.

Some big names went unsold, including England’s Jamie Smith, New Zealand’s Devon Conway, and Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk. Yet, the auction showcased the growing demand for both overseas specialists and promising domestic talent, reflecting how IPL franchises are balancing experience with potential.

The accelerated rounds further saw strategic picks like Josh Inglis (₹8.6 crore, LSG) , Mustafizur Rahman (₹9.2 crore, KKR) , and several uncapped Indian talents finding new homes across franchises, emphasizing the league’s blend of excitement, unpredictability, and opportunity for emerging players.

As IPL 2026 approaches, franchises have built a mix of star power and promising youth, ensuring fans can expect high-octane cricket both on and off the field.