BCCI Revises IPL 2026 Auction List, Confirms Nine Fresh Additions Including Overseas Picks

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a last-minute revision to the IPL 2026 mini-auction player list, adding nine new names late on Tuesday, December 10, bringing the total to 359 players ahead of the event scheduled for December 16 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The update comes just hours after the initial announcement trimmed the pool from over 1,000 to 350 entrants, reflecting ongoing refinements to ensure a balanced mix of capped, uncapped, and overseas talent. Among the additions, uncapped Indian batter Swastik Chikara stands out as the most notable inclusion, having been part of the title-winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad in IPL 2025. His omission from the original list had raised eyebrows, given his consistent performances in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League, where he has showcased aggressive top-order batting and fielding prowess.

The revised list bolsters the uncapped Indian contingent with five fresh entries, including Karnataka's wicket-keeper batter KL Shrijith, who featured for Mumbai Indians last season but couldn't break into the playing XI. Other domestic additions are Tripura all-rounder Manisankar Murasingh, Hyderabad pacer Chama Milind—who has prior IPL experience with Sunrisers Hyderabad—Uttarakhand's Rahul Raj Namala, and Jharkhand batter Virat Singh, another player with brief stints for Delhi Capitals. These inclusions highlight the BCCI's intent to spotlight emerging talents from the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, providing franchises opportunities to invest in cost-effective Indian depth amid retention caps and salary purse constraints.

Overseas representation gets a boost with three new players: Australian off-spin all-rounder Chris Green, known for his economical bowling and middle-order hitting in global T20 leagues; South African seamer Eathan Bosch, brother of Mumbai Indians' retained all-rounder Corbin Bosch and a rising star in Proteas white-ball setups; and Malaysian wicket-keeper Virandeep Singh, marking him as the sole associate nation participant in the auction. Virandeep's inclusion underscores the IPL's broadening global appeal, potentially opening doors for underrepresented cricketing nations. Additionally, a key correction addresses the nationality of leg-spinner Nikhil Chaudhary, shifting him from Indian to Australian status—reflecting his birth in India but current allegiance Down Under—ensuring accurate overseas slots for franchises.

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As preparations intensify for the auction, reports suggest there will be no traditional marquee set, with proceedings kicking off directly with capped batters to streamline the process. This change, coupled with high-profile additions like Quinton de Kock—whose name was reinstated following a franchise request after his recent ODI century against India—signals a dynamic pool poised for surprises. With teams like RCB, MI, and others eyeing reinforcements post-retentions, the expanded list promises intense bidding wars, particularly for versatile uncapped Indians like Chikara, who could command seven-figure sums based on his championship pedigree.

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