A total of 77 players went under the hammer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 player auction, for which all 10 franchises spent Rs 215.45 crore. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) alone spent Rs 63.85 crore. This franchise bought maximum 13 players. KKR had entered this mini auction with a purse of Rs 64.30 crore. He included Australian all-rounder Cameron Green in his team by bidding Rs 25.20 crore.
Green became the most expensive foreign player in IPL history. Earlier this record was in the name of Mitchell Starc. Starc was bought by KKR in the IPL 2024 auction for Rs 24.75 crore. This franchise owned by Shahrukh Khan also made a big bid for Sri Lankan fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana. KKR added Pathirana for Rs 18 crore.
The luck of Indian uncapped players also shone in the auction held on December 16 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Prashant Veer (14.2 crore) and Karthik Sharma (14.2 crore) became the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history. Both Prashant and Karthik were bought by Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Apart from this, big bids were also placed on Aaqib Nabi (8.40 crore) and Mangesh Yadav (5.20 crore).
Also read: Statistics show why Delhi Capitals spent Rs 8.4 crore on Aaqib Dar
Franchises bet on young players
29 foreign and 48 Indian players were sold in the auction. Foreign players earned Rs 128.05 crore, while Indian players earned Rs 87.40 crore. Most of this Rs 87.40 crore was spent on uncapped players. The franchises bought only 9 capped Indian players, out of which 6 were bought at base price only. Except for Akash Deep (1 crore), the base price of the remaining 5 was only Rs 75 lakh.
The first choice of franchises was young Indian players. 32 players under the age of 25 were bid in the auction, out of which 29 were Indians. At the same time, only 20 players who had crossed the age of 30 could be sold.
Also read:How is Chennai Super Kings looking after IPL 2026 auction? see full list
Money showered on players of which age?
Players under 25 years of age have earned the most in the IPL 2026 auction. His share was Rs 73 crore 80 lakh. Mathisha Pathirana (22 years), Prashant Veer (20 years) and Karthik Sharma (19 years), who are at second, third and fourth positions in the list of most expensive players, belong to this age group. Whereas, Rs 71 crore 40 lakh was spent on players in the 26-30 age group, while Rs 70 crore 25 lakh was spent on players above 30 years of age.
Players under 25 years of age made bumper earnings
Players under 25 earned – 73 crore 80 lakh
Players aged 26-30 earned – 71 crore 40 lakhs
Players aged 30 plus earned – 70 crore 25 lakh
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