IPL 2026 Auction: 17 Telugu Players in the Fray, Will Luck Smile on Them?

The enthusiasm for the Indian Premier League (IPL) among cricket lovers in India is unmatched. For a lot of local players, getting an IPL contract is a dream that has the power to change their career paths instantly. The IPL 2026 (Season 19) is going to take place from March to May, and the mini auction will be conducted on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where the franchises will be placing their bids for the players.Among those testing their fortunes this year is Srikakulam’s own Singupuram Durga Nagavara (SDNV) Prasad.

Chasing the IPL Dream

Young cricketer SDNV Prasad from Jalumuru is firmly in the IPL race. He was present at the trials for Punjab Kings' selection last year, but he didn't make it because no team showed any interest at the last moment. Nevertheless, Prasad continued to be seen in various tournaments, like the C.K. Nayudu Under-23 and several T20s, where he continued to be a player and mentioned his name. His overall art was recognized with a record-breaking ₹9.50 lakh deal from Amaravati Royals in APL Season 4.

Prasad is currently displaying his skills as a wicketkeeper-batter in the renowned Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (Senior T20) and is very optimistic about IPL entry this time after being shortlisted. Prasad hails from Jalumuru Police Station Street and has had a tough upbringing—his father Singupuram Upendram, a car driver, died of illness in 2019 while his mother Revathi is a worker in the Jalumuru MPDO office.

Vijay’s Breakthrough Last Season

In the IPL 2025 (Season 18), Tripurana Vijay was among the top players mentioned mostly because of his surprising entrance and hence he became the first cricketer from the Srikakulam district to step into the IPL. The young lad of 23 was acquired by the Delhi Capitals for a minimum price of ₹30 lakh. Although he was not included in the official team of the day, he was a replacement for a few games.

After that, his off-spin bowling and batting in the different Ranji matches were remarkable. The splendid performance was continued in the APL Season 4 when Vizag Lions bought him for ₹7.55 lakh. Vijay, who lives in Ayyappa Nagar Colony of Tekkali, has a family that encourages him, his father works in the Information Department and his mother is a housewife. Considering his talent, the Delhi Capitals chose to retain him for the next season.

17 Telugu Players in the Auction Pool

This year's IPL auction has seen the inclusion of 17 players from Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh. Among these, KS Bharat, an international player from India, has a base price of ₹75 lakh, while all the others are priced at ₹30 lakh. The city of Hyderabad brings in nine players and the state of Andhra Pradesh has eight who are aspiring for their big break.

Hyderabad players:

Perala Aman Rao, Rahul Buddhi, Tanay Thyagarajan, Aaron George Varghese, Rakshan Reddy, Manish Reddy, Nishanth Saranu, Arfaaz Mohammed, Nithin Sai Yadav.

Andhra players:

Kona Srikar Bharat, Ricky Bhui, Satyanarayana Raju, Yarra Prithvi Raj, Bailapudi Yashwanth, Dheeraj Kumar, Maram Reddy Hemanth Reddy, Sadiq Hussain.

Hope and Hard Work

With SDNV Prasad in the IPL 2026 auction race and last year’s success story of Tripurana Vijay, cricket administrators in Srikakulam are optimistic. Efforts over the past three years to promote cricket in the district—through personal funding, training programs, and talent identification—are beginning to bear fruit.

If luck aligns with preparation, officials believe another local talent could secure an IPL contract this mini auction, further strengthening the region’s presence on Indian cricket’s biggest stage.