Atharva Taide, one of Vidarbha’s most reliable top-order batters, enters the IPL 2026 auction as an uncapped Indian player listed at a base price of Rs 30 lakh. The left-hander is among the eight Vidarbha players shortlisted from the massive registration pool of 1,390 cricketers, which was later trimmed to 350 names for the final auction list.
Taide was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad setup last season and made one appearance as an Impact Player, but it is his domestic form that keeps him firmly on the radar of franchises. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophyhe scored 180 runs at a strike rate of 142.86showcasing the aggressive batting that teams value in modern T20 cricket.
Beyond white-ball cricket, Taide has also reminded selectors of his long-format credentials. In October’s Iranian Cuphe produced one of the standout innings of the season—carrying his bat for an unbeaten 118 on a challenging opening day against Rest of India. His composed century, stitched through a 184-run stand with Yash Rathod, reflected his temperament and ability to adjust gears. Vidarbha ended that day at 280/5, with Taide anchoring the innings despite multiple collapses around him.
A naturally fluent stroke-maker, Taide has been prominent in Vidarbha’s rise in domestic cricket. He has delivered in pressure games, played across formats, and shown a growing range of scoring options. His left-handed top-order profile, strong form across tournaments, and experience in elite domestic competitions give him a realistic chance of drawing attention at the auction table.
With 224 uncapped Indians in the IPL 2026 pool, franchises are looking closely at players who combine proven domestic runs with untapped upside—and Atharva Taide fits that mould perfectly.
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