IPL 2026 Auction Buzz: Top 5 Players in High Demand

The IPL 2026 auction is only six days away! Etched in the calendar for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, this year's auction has 359 players in the fray, and the franchises are already planning their moves to grab the best talent available. Even though the teams will be looking primarily at the star players, there will be others who attract bidding in millions.

Cameron Green – The Most Expensive Contender

The Australian T20 allrounder Cameron Green is projected as the IPL 2026 auction's highest-paid athlete. Green's T20 injury kept him off the IPL 2025 season but his performance this year has been nothing short of excellent. In the IPL 2024 series, he scored 255 runs and took 10 wickets thus displaying his complete talent as an allrounder. The experts are in consensus he might even reach beyond Rs 20 crores with KKR and CSK likely to fight for him.

Matheesha Pathirana – The Yorker King Returns

The Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana took the fans by surprise; he was let go by Chennai Super Kings thus becoming a hot commodity for the auction. Pathirana is generally recognized for his magnificent yorkers, and it is believed that his price take-off would be quite high; in fact, he has already been singled out by a number of teams as an asset capable of turning the game around in their favor.

Ravi Bishnoi – India’s Leg-Spin Sensation

Ravi Bishnoi from India, who was released by Lucknow Supergiants, is going to be a player in great demand again. The leg-spinner's knack for taking wickets is considered to be the biggest plus of him being such franchises' asset as KKR, CSK, and Sunrisers Hyderabad who are vying for his signing.

Venkatesh Iyer & Prithvi Shaw – IPL Form Stars

All-rounder Venkatesh Iyer and opening batsman Prithvi Shaw are sure to draw huge bids. Iyer was let go by KKR even though he had been purchased for a huge amount earlier, while the Shaw player who was unable to find a buyer last season is now the one with the hottest bat. The two players will ignite the competition for franchising and there will be exciting battles every auction day.

Liam Livingstone – Finisher and Bowler Combo

England’s Liam Livingstone, who played for RCB last season, is once again participating in the auction. Livingstone is known for his big hitting and effective bowling and thus is an all-rounder in high demand for those teams wishing to have a late-game finisher.

The IPL 2026 auction is going to be fascinating from the teams' and fans' perspectives because the event is going to offer top all-rounders, explosive batsmen, and match-winning bowlers. Count on big money bids, unexpected last-minute moves, and countless strategic maneuvers as franchises try to piece together their fantasy squads.