The build-up to the 2026 IPL auction has been focused on who won’t be there rather than who will be. Andre Russell, Glenn Maxwell, and Moeen Ali have withdrawn from the competition as they focus on the PSL.
There are gaps aplenty for others to fill. The Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings have massive budgets, while the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, and Lucknow Super Giants aren’t short of spending power.
Here are the best players available in the 2026 auction:
Cameron Green
Back bowling in the Ashes, Cam Green projects to be the highest-priced player in the 2026 IPL auction.
Green provides all-round value and has a great track record with the bat, with 707 runs at a strike rate above 150.
Liam Livingstone
Something of a T20 specialist, Liam Livingstone doesn’t seem to be in England’s white-ball plans, so he can exclusively focus on the circuit.
Livingstone is primarily picked as a batter in the IPL, though his spin variations are a decent option for teams looking for bowling depth.
Kyle Jamieson
Signed for big money back in 2021, Kyle Jamieson’s pace and bounce are useful at both ends of the innings.
Jamieson is a better batter than his limited T20 record suggests, as reflected in his 23.25 average in ODIs.
Rachin Ravindra
Rachin Ravindra is going to be a man in demand after spending two seasons with the Chennai Super Kings.
Ravindra is an accomplished player of spin. He’s a handy bowling option in the middle overs with his left-arm finger spin.
Anrich Nortje
South African pacer Anrich Nortje returned from injury to compete in the CSA T20 in November. There are plenty of teams in need of fast-bowling reinforcements, so expect a bidding war to break out for Nortje.
He’s a consistent wicket-taking threat with high pace that can hurry even the world’s best batters.
Jamie Smith
Jamie Smith’s only experience of overseas franchise T20 cricket is 12 matches in the ILT20. The stint was underwhelming, with England’s wicketkeeper only averaging 16 with the bat.
It’ll be interesting to see how that impacts Smith’s stock in the IPL auction.
Alzarri Joseph
With height and pace, Alzarri Joseph should be an impactful bowler in the IPL.
His numbers are mediocre in the IPL, but his record in the ILT20, CPL, and PSL are stellar.
David Miller
Try and find a T20 league David Miller hasn’t starred in. The South African has more than played his part in IPL history.
Any batting lineup can benefit from putting Miller in the middle order.
Matheesha Pathirana
Despite going at over 10 runs per over in 2025, Matheesha Pathirana projects to be one of the most sought-after fast bowlers in the upcoming auction.
Injuries are a concern for Pathirana, though the upside is clear with his ability to swing the ball at 85+ mph.
Wanindu Hasaranga
A wicket-taking, captivating leg spinner and destructive middle-order batter, Wanindu Hasaranga struggled in the last edition of the IPL, and has never lived up to his reputation with the bat.
There’s a world where he’s the best all-rounder in the tournament, though, so he could prove to be a bargain.
Maheesh Theekshana
Maheesh Theekshana is a mystery spinner with experience in T20 leagues all over the world. His last couple of years in the IPL haven’t been his strongest, but at 25 years of age, he’s far from his peak.
Theekshana really has it all. Don’t be surprised if he proves to be one of the steals of the auction.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
Since breaking onto the international scene as a teenager, Mujeeb Ur Rahman has been a T20 mercenary. He’s got brilliant figures in the CPL and BPL, with decent numbers elsewhere.
There are some good spin options in the auction, so it’ll be interesting to see where Mujeeb falls in the pecking order.
