Who Won the IPL 2026 Auction? Ranking All Teams from Best to Worst

The mini-auction of IPL 2026, which was organized in Abu Dhabi on December 16, turned out to be a very thrilling event characterized by record-breaking bids, brave strategies, and a few unexpected moves. The franchises distributed a whopping ₹215.45 crore amongst 77 players, thereby bringing about major alterations in the lineups of teams for the next season.

The most prominent news was of Cameron Green, who was the auction's most expensive buy at ₹25.20 crore. Apart from that, Chennai Super Kings also made news by spending a whopping ₹14.20 crore on each of the uncapped young players, Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, making them the highest-priced uncapped players in the IPL history.

While the teams are going back to their strategy sessions here is a list of all the franchises graded according to how efficiently they took part in the auction IPL 2026.

1. Kolkata Knight Riders – The Benchmark

KKR delivered a near-perfect auction. Armed with the biggest purse and multiple slots, they ticked every box.

Cameron Green adds elite all-round depth

Matheesha Pathirana strengthens death bowling

Finn Allen and Tim Seifert cover the wicketkeeper-opener gap

Mustafizur Rahman and Akash Deep boost bowling reserves

2. Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Maximum Value

Despite a limited budget, the defending champions extracted exceptional value.

Venkatesh Iyer at ₹7 crore was a massive steal

Jordan Cox for ₹75 lakh could be the bargain of the auction

Jacob Duffy offers reliable overseas pace support

3. Delhi Capitals – Smart Squad Building

Delhi addressed every weakness with clarity and balance.

Ben Duckett fills the explosive opener role

David Miller at ₹2 crore is outstanding value

Pathum Nissanka adds depth at the top

Ngidi and Jamieson reinforce the pace unit

Auqib Dar Nabi is a high-upside investment

4. Gujarat Titans – Calm and Calculated

With a settled core, GT chose restraint over risk.

Jason Holder adds experience, balance, and versatility

Tom Banton provides batting depth

Conservative approach, but effective given their consistency

5. Chennai Super Kings – High-Risk Revolution

CSK took a dramatic departure from their traditional approach.

₹28.40 crore spent on two uncapped players raised eyebrows

Missed out on proven all-rounders like Cameron Green

Matt Henry and Akeal Hosein add depth but not dominance

This could either redefine CSK’s future or backfire badly.

6. Rajasthan Royals – Bowling Boost, Batting Doubts

RR fixed a key problem but created another.

Ravi Bishnoi addresses spin concerns

Adam Milne reduces dependence on Jofra Archer

Lack of top-order reinforcements after Sanju Samson’s exit is worrying

7. Punjab Kings – Minimal Tweaks

After finishing runners-up in 2025, PBKS avoided overhauls.

Cooper Connolly replaces Glenn Maxwell’s role

Ben Dwarshuis adds fast-bowling depth

Only four buys reflect a settled and confident squad

8. Sunrisers Hyderabad – Risky Big Money Call

SRH’s auction strategy raised red flags.

Liam Livingstone appears overpriced

Failed to replace Adam Zampa adequately

Bowling attack lacks balance despite strong batting

9. Lucknow Super Giants – Missed Opportunities

LSG’s decisions left gaps in key areas.

Josh Inglis at ₹8.60 crore despite limited availability raised concerns

Letting David Miller go for ₹2 crore hurt their finishing strength

Wanindu Hasaranga was a smart buy, but imbalance remains

10. Mumbai Indians – Hard to Judge

MI entered the auction with almost no flexibility.

Retained 20 players, leaving just ₹2.75 crore

Quinton de Kock at ₹1 crore was good value

Their real work was done during retentions, not at the auction

Final Verdict

The IPL 2026 auction clearly belonged to Kolkata Knight Riders, who set the gold standard in squad planning. While teams like RCB and DC impressed with smart buys, others took risky paths that could define their season. With squads now locked, attention shifts to how these strategies play out on the field in IPL 2026.