Chennai, 16 December (H.S.) : The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction concluded on December 16, 2025, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, where ten franchises competed fiercely to fill 77 slots from a pool of approximately 350-369 players. With a combined purse exceeding ₹237 crore, the event featured intense bidding wars, record purchases, and a strong emphasis on emerging uncapped Indian talent.

The standout acquisition was Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, secured by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a staggering ₹25.20 crore after a prolonged battle involving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and others. This made Green the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, surpassing Mitchell Starc's previous record, and the third-highest overall buy behind Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer.

KKR further bolstered their pace attack by acquiring Sri Lankan slinger Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore, marking the highest fee for a Sri Lankan player in the league.

In a surprising development, CSK invested heavily in uncapped players, snapping up Prashant Veer (left-arm spinning all-rounder) and Kartik Sharma (wicketkeeper-batter) for ₹14.20 crore each—the joint-highest for any uncapped player in IPL history, representing over 47 times their base price of ₹30 lakh. Delhi Capitals acquired Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi for ₹8.40 crore.

Other notable deals included Venkatesh Iyer to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹7 crore, Ravi Bishnoi to Rajasthan Royals for ₹7.20 crore, and David Miller to Delhi Capitals for ₹2 crore at base price. Several high-profile names, including Prithvi Shaw, Devon Conway, and Liam Livingstone, went unsold.

The auction underscored franchises' strategic focus on all-round versatility and domestic depth ahead of the 2026 season.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary