Big Dreams, Bigger Bets: Young Indians Shine at IPL 2026 Mini-Auction
Franchises reshaped squads at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, balancing marquee overseas buys with heavy investments in youth.
The IPL 2026 mini-auction wrapped up on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, with franchises splashing out ₹215.45 crore on 77 players in total. Cameron Green fetched a record ₹25.20 crore from KKR, while CSK's big bets on uncapped Indians Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma at ₹14.20 crore each highlighted the focus on youth. Here's how each of the 10 teams performed, based on their key acquisitions and strategic moves.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): With the fattest purse, KKR went on a shopping spree to overhaul their squad after a dismal IPL 2025. They smashed the record books by grabbing Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for ₹25.20 crore, then beefed up their pace attack with Matheesha Pathirana (₹18 crore) and Mustafizur Rahman (₹9.2 crore). On the Indian front, young wicket-keeper batter Tejasvi Dahiya joined for ₹3 crore. It's a high-octane rebuild with overseas stars galore, but they'll need to nail down a captain soon to gel it all together.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Holding the second-biggest purse, the five-time champs ditched their veteran-heavy approach for a youth revolution, shelling out ₹14.20 crore each on uncapped Indians Prashant Veer (all-rounder, Jadeja's heir apparent) and Kartik Sharma. They smartly rounded out the bowling with Akeal Hosein (spinner), Rahul Chahar, and Matt Henry (pacer). It's a gutsy pivot—success will ride on these untested guns firing, but it keeps the MS Dhoni legacy alive with fresh energy.
Also Read: KKR Break Bank for Cameron Green With ₹25.20 Crore IPL Auction Move
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): As defending champs, RCB played it cool with few gaps to fill. The headline grab was Venkatesh Iyer at ₹7 crore, avenging their 2025 loss to KKR's mega bid. They added pace punch via Jacob Duffy and left-armer Mangesh Yadav, locking in a reliable No. 3 batter. Solid tweaks, but the spin cupboard looks bare beyond Suyash Sharma—that could haunt them on turning tracks.
Punjab Kings (PBKS): The 2025 runners-up snoozed through most of the day before waking up late. Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly brings middle-order muscle, while pacer Ben Dwarshuis adds express zip. Indian spinner Vishal Nishad is a backup for Yuzvendra Chahal, though he's a wildcard. It's a tidy overseas haul that complements their core, but don't expect fireworks—more like steady consolidation.
Mumbai Indians (MI): Rock-bottom purse? No problem for the five-time kings. They snagged Quinton de Kock as wicket-keeping cover for Ryan Rickelton, plus domestic talents Atharva Ankolekar (all-rounder) and Mohammed Izhar. Quiet, calculated picks that plug holes without drama—MI's blueprint stays intact, setting them up as perennial threats with minimal fuss.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): England slugger Liam Livingstone landed for ₹13 crore, turbocharging an already explosive batting lineup full of power hitters. They scooped up several Indian pacers to fill the Mohammed Shami void but missed out on Ravi Bishnoi and lack seasoned spinners. Batting will carry them far, yet bowling balance feels like a gamble on another batting bonanza season.
Gujarat Titans (GT): They chased West Indies veteran Jason Holder hard, securing him at ₹7 crore for middle-order stability and rivalry with Glenn Phillips. Late in the day, they nabbed Luke Wood and Tom Banton for overseas versatility, alongside Indian pacers Ashok Sharma and Prithvi Raj Yarra. Pace depth is now enviable, making GT a nightmare in the slog overs.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): A rollercoaster day—big spends on Josh Inglis (₹8.6 crore WK-batter, but mostly unavailable next season) without a true finisher to replace David Miller. Wanindu Hasaranga slots in for Ravi Bishnoi on spin duty, with Anrich Nortje boosting pace. Solid back-end additions, but that middle-order black hole screams for quick fixes.
Delhi Capitals (DC): Bargain central! David Miller joined at base price (₹2 crore) for finishing nous, freeing up cash for Jammu & Kashmir all-rounder Auqib Dar (₹8.4 crore). Pathum Nissanka and Ben Duckett pair explosively with KL Rahul at the top. Value everywhere—if the openers ignite, DC could storm the playoffs.
Rajasthan Royals (RR): After dumping Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, they rebuilt spin around Ravi Bishnoi (₹7.2 crore), Yash Raj Punja, and Vignesh Puthur for an all-Indian web. Adam Milne backs Jofra Archer in pace. Bowling's fortified, but without a lower-middle bopper, their chase game might stutter.
Also Read: “Could Be A Huge Mistake”: KKR Warned After ₹18 Crore Pathirana Gamble
