IPL 2026 Auction: 5 Cricketers Who Might Fetch Big Money in Abu Dhabi
The Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction is coming on December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. This is one of the most exciting times for cricket fans and franchise teams. The IPL 2026 auction will see close to 400 cricketers go under the hammer as teams look to fill 77 vacant slots. Over 1,355 players have registered for the IPL 2026 auction, making it a huge event in the cricket world.
Understanding the IPL 2026 Mini-Auction
A mini-auction is different from a mega-auction in many ways. In a mini-auction, franchises only look to fill a few empty slots based on what they need. This is where the auction dynamics become very important. It often means several top names might miss out on getting picked. The order in which names appear on the auction list also plays a big role in a player’s chances of being selected. Sometimes a player who is very good might go unpicked if the teams do not need that particular type of player at that moment.
The IPL 2026 mini-auction will have 77 available slots across the 10 teams. This includes 31 spots for overseas players. Ten franchises have a total purse of ₹237.55 crore available to spend. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) enter the auction with the maximum purse of ₹64.30 crore. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have the second-highest purse of ₹43.4 crore. Other teams like Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Mumbai Indians will also look to strengthen their squads at the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
Big Names Absent from IPL 2026 Auction
Some big names will not be seen at the IPL 2026 auction. Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali have withdrawn and decided to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead. Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has also opted out after 14 long seasons with IPL. He will not be part of the IPL 2026 auction. Despite these big withdrawals, many young talents are still expected to fetch big money at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi.
5 Cricketers Likely to Fetch Big Money in IPL 2026 Auction
1. Cameron Green – Australian All-Rounder
Cameron Green is one of the most talked-about players at the IPL 2026 auction. He is an all-rounder who can change any match with his batting and bowling skills. Green is a right-handed batter who can also bowl medium-fast bowling. This is a rare skill in modern cricket. Cameron Green has already scored an IPL hundred for Mumbai Indians in 2023 before he was traded to RCB in 2024. In IPL, Cameron Green has played 29 matches and scored 707 runs while taking 16 wickets. His strike rate in IPL is around 153.70, which shows he plays aggressive cricket. Both KKR and CSK are expected to bid heavily for Cameron Green at the IPL 2026 mini-auction because both teams have entered with high purses.
2. Ravi Bishnoi – Indian Leg-Spinner
Ravi Bishnoi is a young Indian leg-spinner who is expected to fetch big money at the IPL 2026 auction. The biggest surprise in the retention process was when Lucknow Super Giants released Ravi Bishnoi. This has opened doors for other franchises to pick him up at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Ravi Bishnoi has an average of 12 wickets per season in IPL. He already has 72 wickets in IPL and 61 scalps for the Indian team in 42 T20Is. His bowling style is unique because he bowls a bit flatter and faster than traditional leg-spinners. This makes it tough for batters to pick and score against him. Ravi Bishnoi also possesses the lethal wrong’un, which can surprise batters. At a time when most franchises have retained their top spin options, Ravi Bishnoi will be on high demand during the IPL 2026 auction.
3. Liam Livingstone – English All-Rounder
Liam Livingstone is an English all-rounder who is likely to attract huge bids at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Although Livingstone is not a regular in IPL since he made his debut in 2019, he has always attracted huge bids from the franchises. His ability to hit the ball hard and fast is well known. Livingstone’s strike rate in IPL is around 158, which shows how aggressive he is as a batsman. He can also bowl both off-spin and leg-spin, which makes him a valuable all-rounder. His ability to finish games in the middle-order is a big bonus point for all the teams looking at the IPL 2026 auction. Liam Livingstone’s power-hitting skills and bowling ability make him a high-demand player for franchise teams in the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
4. Venkatesh Iyer – Indian All-Rounder
Venkatesh Iyer is a proven customer in IPL who is expected to fetch big money at the IPL 2026 auction. He is a versatile cricketer who can bat both as an opener and in the middle-order. Venkatesh Iyer’s medium-pace bowling also adds to his strengths as a player. This makes him a complete all-rounder. Venkatesh Iyer was bought for a staggering ₹23.75 crore at last year’s auction by KKR. However, he was released by the franchise following a below-par season in IPL 2025. Despite his poor performance last year, Venkatesh Iyer is still expected to attract big money at the IPL 2026 mini-auction because franchises believe in his skills and future potential.
5. Matheesha Pathirana – Sri Lankan Pace Bowler
Matheesha Pathirana from Sri Lanka is known as ‘Baby Malinga’ because of his slingy-arm action just like Lasith Malinga. He will engage a huge bidding war in the IPL 2026 auction. Matheesha Pathirana is a death-over specialist with a record of picking crucial wickets at the end of the match. His ability to bowl yorkers consistently makes him a high-demand player. Pathirana was released by CSK due to injury concerns. However, if he is fit and available for the IPL 2026 mini-auction, many teams will bid for him because death-over specialists are always in demand in IPL teams.
IPL 2026 Auction Schedule and Details
The IPL 2026 mini-auction is scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi at the Etihad Arena. Ten franchises have a total purse of ₹237.55 crore available to fill the 77 vacant slots. Three-time champions KKR enter the auction with the maximum purse of ₹64.30 crore. Five-time champions CSK have the second-highest purse of ₹43.4 crore. Both teams will look to strengthen their squads at the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
The IPL 2026 mini-auction is a tricky affair for players compared to a mega-auction. In a mega-auction, every player gets a chance to be bid for because all teams need to fill many slots. However, in a mini-auction, franchises only look to fill a few empty slots. This means that even some big names might go unpicked if teams do not need players in that particular role.
The order of names on the IPL 2026 auction list also plays a very big role. If a player is called early and no team bids for him, it becomes harder for him to get picked later. This is why the sequence of names matters a lot in a mini-auction. The BCCI will announce the final list of players soon, and then the IPL 2026 mini-auction will take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.
The IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16 will be a crucial event for all cricket fans and franchise teams. Five cricketers – Cameron Green, Ravi Bishnoi, Liam Livingstone, Venkatesh Iyer, and Matheesha Pathirana – are expected to fetch big money at the IPL 2026 auction. Each of these players brings something special to the table.
