Abu Dhabi, UAE, 16 December (H.S.): Mumbai Indians reclaimed South African wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock on Tuesday at his base price of ₹1 crore during the IPL 2026 auction, marking a notable return for the explosive opener who recently reversed his white-ball international retirement.

Auction Yields Modest Bids for Top Keepers

Only three prominent wicketkeepers found buyers at their reserve prices amid a subdued market: Delhi Capitals secured England's Ben Duckett for ₹2 crore, boasting a T20I strike rate over 153 across 20 matches, while Kolkata Knight Riders nabbed New Zealand aggressor Finn Allen for the same amount, with his T20I rate exceeding 163 in 52 games.

De Kock's IPL pedigree shines with 3,309 runs in 115 matches at a 134+ strike rate, including two centuries and 24 fifties across franchises, though his last KKR stint yielded just 152 runs in eight outings; he boasts an IPL title with MI and holds South Africa's T20I run-scoring record at 2,706.

Stars Unsold in Shocking Twist

England veterans Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Smith drew no bids in the opening round, alongside Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz and India's KS Bharat, leaving them eligible for the accelerated round; de Kock's career tally spans 11,543 T20 runs with seven centuries and 76 fifties over 416 matches.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar