The IPL 2026 Mini-Auction, hosted in Abu Dhabi’s vibrant Etihad Arena, proved to be an electrifying event, marked by record-breaking salaries and significant team investments. Teams with substantial purses, like Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, were at the forefront of aggressive bidding to fill the 77 available player slots, utilizing a collective budget of Rs. 237.55 crore.
Cameron Green’s move to the Kolkata Knight Riders for an astonishing Rs. 25.20 crore set a new record for the most expensive overseas player acquisition in the league’s history. KKR also secured Matheesha Pathirana for Rs. 18 crore. Chennai Super Kings notably invested heavily in emerging Indian talent, signing Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for Rs. 14.20 crore each, making them the highest-paid uncapped Indian players.
Other notable signings included Liam Livingstone by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs. 13 crore, and Venkatesh Iyer joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs. 7 crore. Lucknow Super Giants strengthened their squad with Josh Inglis (Rs. 8.60 crore) and Anrich Nortje (Rs. 2 crore). Gujarat Titans welcomed Jason Holder for Rs. 7 crore. Mumbai Indians brought back Quinton de Kock at his base price of Rs. 1 crore, and Rajasthan Royals secured Ravi Bishnoi for Rs. 7.20 crore.
Delhi Capitals made a substantial investment in Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi Dar, paying Rs. 8.40 crore. The auction saw the rise of uncapped Indian talent, while some established international players like Devon Conway and Michael Bracewell initially went unsold, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the IPL player market.