The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has completely changed the way the league operates. The most recent auction was one of the most intense, competitive, and financially rewarding in the league’s history.
The auction of the IPL 2026 took place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and featured aggressive bidding, long-term strategic planning, and bold plans for squad-building by all of the ten franchises. This was the first time in IPL history where teams were not simply chasing ‘stars’ but instead focusing on creating their own combinations for future success.
The franchises all received a healthy purse of Rs 125 crores, which enabled them to build their teams from scratch. As a result, the IPL 2026 Players List includes an outstanding combination of international stars, uncapped Indian-given talent, and select specialists.
From this year’s auction, you can see how the IPL has changed into a league based on analytics, scouting, and tactical acumen rather than on reputation alone.
IPL Auction 2026: Format, Rules & Background
The IPL 2026 player list was established following an auction process. The auction process was highly competitive, and there were 369 registered players for the teams to bid on. A total of 77 players were acquired by all the teams, filling in roster gaps for each team.
All teams were required to have a minimum number of 18 players on their rosters. Teams could have a maximum of 25 players on their rosters. Each team could also add up to eight foreign players onto its final roster.
These rules created a balance between maintaining the identities and philosophies of all franchises through flexibility to form their roster based on conditions that may alter game-play strategies.
IPL 2026 Auction Rules
The individual salary cap was among the most noticeable differences between the IPL 2026 auction and previous years.
All players had a base price ranging from ₹30 lakhs to ₹2 crores, allowing both emerging players from India and established international players access to the auction process.
The ₹18 crore salary cap player was introduced. A bid amount in excess of the salary cap will be donated to the BCCI welfare fund, supporting financial stability within the League.
In addition, teams can make trades and officially identify replacements after the auction period by following IPL regulations.
These new rules greatly affected the bidding patterns for the top-tier international players in IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Auction Highlights
The IPL 2026 player auction was memorable for various historic events that occurred during this period and for nearly every franchise setting records with their selections of players from this event. Franchises were more than willing to spend large amounts of money when they could see the potential for a player to influence all phases of the game.
Cameron Green established a new benchmark.
The biggest headline from the player auction comes from Cameron Green, an all-rounder from Australia. For an all-rounder who can bowl fast and is capable of batting in the top order, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) entered into a bidding war that resulted in them signing Green for ₹25.20 crore, which is the highest amount ever paid to an overseas player in the IPL.
While Green’s official salary will be capped at ₹18 crore, his contract highlighted that the premium franchises are willing to pay for fast-bowling all-rounders who can contribute to the success of their teams.
Uncapped Indian players:
While uncapped players from overseas are always the stars of any IPL auction, this year’s auction had a different story. The success of uncapped Indian players will be a major reason for the popularity of this auction.
The amount of money that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spent on:
- Prashant Veer for ₹14.20 crore
- Kartik Sharma for ₹14.20 crore
The record amount paid for an uncapped player.
Both of these cricketers will go down in IPL history as the:
- Most expensive uncapped players to be selected in an IPL auction
- Most expensive Indian players to be selected in IPL 2026.
This should indicate a strong trend for future franchises to place more emphasis on developing and investing heavily in domestic talent.
IPL 2026 Most Expensive Players List
The IPL 2026 Players List with Price Highlights has placed emphasis on the increased value placed on all-rounders and match-winners.
- Most expensive player in IPL 2026: Cameron Green – ₹25.20 crore (KKR)
- Most expensive overseas player: Cameron Green – ₹25.20 crore
- Most expensive Indian player: Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma – ₹14.20 crore
- Most expensive uncapped player: Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma – ₹14.20 crore
The numbers demonstrate the ability of franchises to recognize the increased demands placed on players who can contribute equally with both bat and ball.
IPL 2026 Players List – Team-wise Squad Analysis
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) IPL 2026 Players List
In the IPL auction, CSK had the second-highest budget at Rs. 43.4 crores, and their goal was to completely refresh their squad while retaining the experienced core of the team.
The main players that CSK were planning to sign as part of their auction plan were both Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma.
CSK had several other good picks as part of their auction strategy for the IPL 2026, which increased their overall bowling and overall all-around ability, including Akeal Hosein, Matthew Short, Rahul Chahar, and Matt Henry.
CSK has also retained its core group of players, including several of its trusted leaders, Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni; match-winners Shivam Dube and Khaleel Ahmed.
The CSK IPL 2026 players’ list is a testament to a good long-term strategy for CSK.
Delhi Capitals (DC) IPL 2026 Players List
The Delhi Capitals have chosen an approach of balance rather than price. They kept a solid core of Indian players and made a concerted effort to build an overseas roster with veteran experience. Delhi’s top acquisition was Auqib Dar, while the addition of Pathum Nissanka, Ben Duckett, David Miller, and Lungi Ngidi also adds to the team’s depth and versatility.
In addition to those acquisitions, the Capitals made sure to keep the core of the team intact by retaining KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc and Tristan Stubbs.
Overall, the Capitals will have a wealth of talented players in their 2026 IPL player pools across all areas of the game.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL 2026 Players List
KKR was the dominant force throughout the auction process by being the most discussed team.
Having started off with the largest budget of ₹64.30 crore, KKR was quick to utilise their budget and purchase players.
Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana were the main keys to building KKR’s strategy. Adding further depth to the KKR batting lineup with the addition of Finn Allen and Rachin Ravindra.
Due to the availability issues of Mustafizur Rahman, KKR eventually released him, replacing him with a new player to be announced shortly.
Mumbai Indians (MI) IPL 2026 Players List
Mumbai Indians weren’t able to spend much with a budget of ₹2.75 crores.
While other franchises chased high-profile players, MI opted for a model built on veteran players and a stable roster.
Quinton de Kock was a good buy for MI, at a low-cost price of ₹1 crore.
MI’s strategy emphasized value, not the excitement surrounding the auction.
Other Teams – Notable IPL 2026 Signings
Venkatesh Iyer was acquired by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru to bolster their all-round department.
Liam Livingstone’s acquisition for ₹13 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad is one of the largest splashes made by the team, with the largest purchase in IPL history.
Josh Inglis added some firepower to Lucknow Super Giants, while Jason Holder was picked up bythe Gujarat Titans.
Teams like Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals also successfully filled targeted roster positions.
These moves complete the IPL 2026 all team players and their associated pricing information.
IPL 2026 All Team Released Players List – Unsold Players Overview
The IPL 2026 all team released players list surprised many fans.
Several high-profile international players went unsold despite impressive credentials.
Notable unsold players included Jonny Bairstow, Devon Conway, Maheesh Theekshana, Gerald Coetzee, Deepak Hooda, and Daryl Mitchell.
This trend highlights how franchises now prioritize role clarity, age profile, and recent form over brand value.
IPL 2026 Auction Trends & Insights
- The IPL auction 2026 players list revealed several important trends.
- Uncapped Indian players commanded record-breaking prices.
- All-rounders remained the most sought-after category.
- Overseas fast bowlers continued to hold strong market value.
- Teams placed heavy emphasis on death-over specialists.
- The new salary cap rule ensured financial discipline across franchises.
Final Thoughts on IPL 2026 Players List
The IPL 2026 players list reflects the evolution of modern T20 cricket. From Cameron Green’s record-breaking deal to the rise of uncapped Indian stars like Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, the auction redefined player valuation.
With balanced squads, explosive talent, and smart leadership across teams, IPL 2026 promises to be one of the most competitive and entertaining seasons in league history.
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