IPL 2026 Auction: 1355 Players Registered, Green & Pathirana Lead Rs 2 Cr List
Record 1,355 cricketers enter IPL 2026 auction. Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana top Rs 2 crore base price list. Intense bidding expected in Abu Dhabi.
image for illustrative purpose
A record 1,355 cricketers from all over the world have already confirmed their participation in the IPL 2026 players auction slated for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Reports have it that 43 foreign players and 2 Indian cricketers have self-placed in the highest base price range of Rs 2 crore thus fuelling up even more competition between franchises for a higher bid.
One of the prime names to be heard in the auction is the Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and the Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana. Injury kept Green off the field for the entire 2025 season but he is now in the hunt again while Pathirana's release from Chennai Super Kings took many by surprise and thus his price was raised for more than 1 team. Pathirana's bowling action bears a striking resemblance to that of Malinga's and he is considered to be one of the highest-selling players if the auction trends are in line with the past.
Mitchell Starc is the one who has always been the highest IPL mini auction signing as he was the case with Kolkata Knight Riders at the price of Rs 24.75 crores for the 2024 season. KKR is now in a very good position as they enter the 2026 auction with Rs 64.30 crores left in their pocket after retaining 12 players which also hints at again potentially securing some high-profile players by the team.
BCCI's new rules will put a ceiling on the overseas players at Rs 18 cr in the mini auction this year. Thus, even if the bids go beyond that amount, the player shall be sold for Rs 18 crore only. This ceiling is equal to the highest retention slab that was applied during the 2025 mega auction and all IPL franchises will have the same limit during IPL 2026.
The auction is expected to be one with strong competitors and especially for the likes of Pathirana and Green since franchises would want stronger squads just before the new IPL season. Analysts are saying that it will be a very dynamic auction session with the highest competition for top international talents.
