IPL 2026 Auction Live: Cameron Green, Venkatesh Iyer in Spotlight as KKR and CSK Prepare for Big Bids

The IPL 2026 mini-auction is set to be driven by a clear imbalance between demand and supply, with pace-bowling all-rounders expected to command premium prices. With franchises assembling today, Australia’s Cameron Green is widely tipped to be the biggest beneficiary of the auction dynamics.

There are 77 slots available in total and the teams together have a purse of ₹237.55 crores. It is expected that the big financial franchises will have most of the players and those with less money will have to be very careful. Mumbai Indians, which have a very small budget of only ₹2.75 crores, are going to mainly look at low-priced and uncapped players.

Green Leads High-Demand All-Rounders

At the heart of the auction buzz is Cameron Green, alongside India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer and England’s power-hitter Liam Livingstone. Seam-bowling all-rounders remain a rare and highly valued asset in T20 cricket, virtually ensuring aggressive bidding.

Kolkata Knight Riders, armed with the biggest purse of ₹64.30 crore and 13 vacancies to fill, appear best placed to go all out. Chennai Super Kings, with ₹43.40 crore available, are the only franchise capable of matching KKR’s financial firepower.

Despite modest IPL numbers—704 runs and 16 wickets from 29 matches—Green’s appeal lies in his versatility. As an Australian all-format regular who can bat in the top order and bowl pace, he fits a skill bracket franchises are willing to overpay for in a mini-auction setting.

Venkatesh Iyer’s Value Test

Venkatesh Iyer’s auction prospects are equally intriguing. After enduring a tough season following his ₹23.75 crore deal last year, his market value will be closely watched. With no Right To Match (RTM) card in play, any bid crossing ₹10 crore would now be considered reasonable, reflecting a reassessment of his worth.

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder completes the trio of seam-bowling all-rounders in focus. While he may not attract the same headlines as Green, his reliability with both bat and ball makes him a valuable option in a shallow market.

Overseas Pay Cap in Focus

Even if bidding for Green or other overseas stars soars beyond ₹20 crore, their actual earnings will be capped at ₹18 crore. As per IPL regulations, foreign players at a mini-auction cannot earn more than the highest retention slab. Any amount above the cap is deducted from the team’s purse but does not increase the player’s salary.

More Names to Watch

Besides the major all-rounders, strong interest is anticipated for Liam Livingstone and Quinton de Kock from South Africa who might even reach the limit of ₹9 crores. Quickly bowled Matheesha Pathirana and Jacob Duffy, the former star uncapped Indian Ashok Sharma and others have created more interests around the auction day, which will be very competitive among the bidders.

The IPL 2026 mini-auction is going to be unpredictable, intense, and possibly even record-breaking as franchises will be concentrating on specific requirements, not long-term rebuilding.