The IPL 2026 mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi today (December 16, 2025) has given franchises an opportunity to unearth uncapped Indian talent within a limited budget and 77 slots.
Key players include **Oaqib Nabi** (Jammu & Kashmir), a 29-year-old swing bowler who took 29 wickets in five Ranji Trophy 2025-26 matches (average 13.27, best 7/24) and 15 wickets in seven Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) games (economy ~7.41). His ability in the powerplay and previous net bowling experience make him a prime fast bowling target.
**Ashok Sharma** (Rajasthan), 23, emerged as the top wicket-taker in SMAT 2025 with 20 wickets (including as many four-wicket hauls), and consistently bowled at over 140 km/h. Previous associations with Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders further add to his appeal.
**Abhishek Pathak** (Madhya Pradesh), 28-year-old wicketkeeper-opener, has surprised everyone in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025 with explosive batting (strike rate ~250, including quick centuries and big innings), and doubles up as an aggressive batsman in the top-order.
Nineteen-year-old **Karthik Sharma** (Rajasthan), a big-shot lower-order finisher and wicketkeeper, scored a century on Ranji debut and topped the Vijay Hazare Trophy charts for Rajasthan with 445 runs (strike rate 118.03). His power-hitting has caught the attention of many scouts.
The last name on the list is rare left-arm wrist-spinner **Cranes Phuletra** (Saurashtra), whose unique skill set – despite limited senior T20 experience – earned him a place as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s go-to net bowler last season and earned praise from Jaydev Unadkat. At least two teams are keeping a close eye on him.
These players, on the basis of their stellar performances in domestic cricket, can trigger a bidding war and become surprise millionaires.
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