The IPL 2026 mini auction delivered its fair share of surprises, with franchises focusing on very specific requirements and leaving a large number of experienced and emerging players without contracts.
Held in Abu Dhabi, the auction saw aggressive bidding for select stars, including Cameron Green, who fetched INR 25.20 crore, and Matheesha Pathirana, who went for INR 18 crore. However, despite these big purchases, several high-profile players failed to attract a single bid.
Well-known names such as Devon Conway, Jamie Smith, and Deepak Hooda were among those who went unsold, catching fans and analysts off guard.
As expected, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) went head-to-head for Cameron Green, with KKR eventually winning the battle. KKR further strengthened their squad by adding Pathirana and New Zealand opener Finn Allen.
Auction Snapshot
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77 players sold overall
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29 overseas players picked
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79 players went unsold
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19 players later picked in accelerated rounds
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213 players skipped entirely from the 359-player shortlist
Notably, prominent names like Steve Smith and Mayank Agarwal were among those skipped without entering bidding rounds.
Players Unsold at the IPL 2026 Auction
This list includes players whose names were called but did not receive any bid.
🔹 Main Auction Rounds
| Player | Base Price | Status | Set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | 2 Cr | Capped | 1 |
| Devon Conway | 2 Cr | Capped | 1 |
| Gus Atkinson | 2 Cr | Capped | 2 |
| Jamie Smith | 2 Cr | Capped | 2 |
| Deepak Hooda | 75 Lakh | Capped | 2 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 1 Cr | Capped | 2 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 1.5 Cr | Capped | 3 |
| Jonny Bairstow | 1 Cr | Capped | 3 |
| K.S. Bharat | 75 Lakh | Capped | 3 |
| Gerald Coetzee | 2 Cr | Capped | 4 |
| Spencer Johnson | 1.5 Cr | Capped | 4 |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 1 Cr | Capped | 4 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 2 Cr | Capped | 5 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 2 Cr | Capped | 5 |
(Uncapped domestic players followed across Sets 6–10, with base prices largely between 30–50 lakh.)
Accelerated Rounds – Players Still Unsold
Key capped players who failed to secure deals even in accelerated rounds included:
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Daniel Lawrence
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Taskin Ahmed
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Alzarri Joseph
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Jhye Richardson
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Riley Meredith
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Sean Abbott
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Michael Bracewell
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Daryl Mitchell
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Dasun Shanaka
Several uncapped Indian players also remained without teams after multiple accelerated rounds.
Players Picked After Going Unsold (Accelerated Rounds)
Despite missing out initially, these players later found teams:
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Sarfaraz Khan → CSK (₹75 Lakh)
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Rachin Ravindra → KKR (₹2 Cr)
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Liam Livingstone → SRH (₹13 Cr)
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Josh Inglis → LSG (₹8.60 Cr)
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Rahul Chahar → CSK (₹5.20 Cr)
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Prithvi Shaw → DC (₹75 Lakh)
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Adam Milne → RR (₹2.40 Cr)
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Kyle Jamieson → DC (₹2 Cr)
What the Unsold List Reveals
The IPL 2026 auction highlighted a growing trend:
✔ Teams prioritizing role-specific players
✔ Reduced spending on reputation alone
✔ Stronger emphasis on balance and availability
Several international stars now face uncertain IPL futures despite strong international records.
