The anticipation for the IPL 2026 mini-auction is now at its peak, as the ten franchises are finalizing their strategies to fill the remaining slots. A total of 350 players have been shortlisted for the auction, competing for only 77 available spots. Of these 77 spots, 31 are reserved for foreign players, setting the stage for an intense bidding war for top international talent. former australian captain steve smith Has registered in the highest bracket with a base price of ₹2 crore, who was last seen playing in this league in 2021. Before the auction, South Africa’s great fast bowler dale steyn gave his opinion on Smith’s auction future, suggesting that the veteran batsman may not get as aggressive a bid as many are expecting.
Dale Steyn’s direct opinion on Steve Smith’s IPL 2026 mini auction prospects
Dale Steyn made a candid assessment of Smith’s prospects in a Star Sports video segment ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, arguing that modern team management prioritizes current T20 form over reputation and experience. Stan was given this statement: “Dale, I’ll make some statements. If you agree, say true. If you don’t agree, say false. Someone will bid very aggressively for Steve Smith because of experience.” The South African great immediately and strongly disagreed with this bias, giving a balanced explanation that highlights the evolving, data-driven nature of the IPL auction.
Stan’s full answer was: “Wrong. I think teams have become smart enough now that they know how much money they have and who they want to bid for and if Steve Smith goes to a team, I think he will, unfortunately for him, go very cheap.” This prediction highlights the perceived gap between Smith’s undeniable Test pedigree and his recent T20 value, suggesting that franchises will not spend much on a player whose role is often a subject of debate in the explosive T20 format. Steyn’s view suggests that teams are focusing on making the most of their budgets on young, power-hitting specialists, making Smith’s base price of ₹2 crore look like a risk and not a bargain.
Steve Smith’s IPL journey
Smith’s IPL career has been an interesting mix of occasional flashes of brilliance and lackluster performances, which ultimately forced him to go unsold in the IPL 2025 mega-auction, a stark reminder of his dwindling T20 value. The Australian started his IPL journey as a leg-spinner, then transformed into one of cricket’s premier batsmen, and has been involved with a number of franchises, including Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals (which he captained), Rising Pune Supergiant And Delhi Capitals Are included.
His statistical record is solid but not spectacular for the T20 format, having played over 100 matches and scoring nearly 2,500 runs, including a solitary century. However, his strike rate often remains below the explosive standard now required of top foreign batsmen, especially in the middle order.
After being released by Delhi after the 2021 season, Smith remained unsold in 2025, forcing him to take up a commentary role and play in the BBL, where he made the most Big Bash League (BBL) Proved his talent by equaling the record of centuries. Despite his status as one of the best batsmen in the world, this recent unsold record and the base price of ₹2 crore for the 2026 auction puts him in a vulnerable position, justifying Steyn’s prediction that there could be a potentially low selling price for the experienced player.
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