IPL 2026 Auction: Rs 215.45 Crore Spent For 77 Players - How All 10 Teams Fared

The IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi saw all ten franchises making significant player acquisitions for the upcoming season, with a total expenditure of Rs 215.45 crore for 77 players. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green emerged as the most expensive player, securing a Rs 25.20 crore deal with Kolkata Knight Riders. Simultaneously, Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma became the joint-highest-priced uncapped Indian players, each picked up by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 14.20 crore. Here's a breakdown of each team's performance at the auction.

• Kolkata Knight Riders**
• With the largest purse available, KKR lived up to expectations by being the most active team in the auction. Their headline acquisition was Cameron Green for Rs 25.20 crore. Further strengthening their pace attack, they invested heavily in Matheesha Pathirana (Rs 18 crore) and Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 9.2 crore). KKR also showed faith in young Indian talent, securing wicket-keeper batter Tejasvi Dahiya for Rs 3 crore. Following a disappointing IPL 2025, the team underwent a significant rebuild, successfully adding quality players. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the decision regarding their captain remains to be seen.

• Chennai Super Kings**
• CSK entered the auction with the second-largest budget and primarily focused on securing uncapped Indian players, Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma. This move signified a strategic shift towards investing in youth, departing from their usual reliance on experienced players. They also made shrewd acquisitions like Akeal Hosein, Rahul Chahar, and Matt Henry to reinforce their bowling options. While Prashant Veer may be a potential replacement for Jadeja, the team's success will largely depend on the performance of these young talents in IPL 2026.

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru**
• The defending champions, RCB, made fewer changes to their already strong squad. Their most notable addition was Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore, a player they had previously targeted in 2025. With the addition of Jacob Duffy and the left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav, capable of bowling at over 140 kph, RCB will be satisfied with their acquisitions. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. their inability to secure a quality second spinner to support Suyash Sharma might pose a challenge.

• Punjab Kings**
• After a relatively quiet period for most of the auction, Punjab Kings became active in the final two hours. The team secured Cooper Connolly, an all-rounder for the middle order, and Ben Dwarshuis, a pacer to boost their pace attack. Similar to RCB, their choice of Vishal Nishad as backup for Yuzvendra Chahal could prove problematic.

• Mumbai Indians**
• With the smallest purse among all teams, Mumbai Indians focused on strategic acquisitions. They started by acquiring Quinton de Kock as cover for Ryan Rickelton and also added Atharva Ankolekar and Mohammed Izhar to their roster. Overall, it was a quiet but effective auction for the five-time champions, who already possess a formidable squad for IPL 2026.

• Sunrisers Hyderabad**
• SRH's major buy was England all-rounder Liam Livingstone for Rs 13 crore, significantly strengthening their batting lineup. While they have an abundance of power hitters, finding a replacement for Mohammed Shami remains a concern. Despite bidding for Ravi Bishnoi, they were unable to secure an experienced spinner, meaning they will once again rely on their strong batting lineup to win matches.

• Gujarat Titans**
• Gujarat Titans aggressively pursued Jason Holder, successfully acquiring the West Indies veteran for Rs 7 crore. This move strengthens their middle order and provides competition for Glenn Phillips. Towards the end of the auction, they added Luke Wood and Tom Banton to provide additional overseas options. The addition of Ashok Sharma and Prithvi Raj Yarra will undoubtedly bolster their already strong pace attack.

• Lucknow Super Giants**
• LSG experienced a mixed outcome, failing to secure a proven finisher despite releasing David Miller. Instead, they invested heavily in Josh Inglis, acquiring him for Rs 8.6 crore, even though he will be unavailable for a significant portion of the season. Wanindu Hasaranga was brought in to replace Ravi Bishnoi, and Andrich Nortje was also added. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the absence of a reliable middle-order batter could be a cause for concern.

• Delhi Capitals**
• Delhi Capitals had a successful auction, starting with the acquisition of David Miller at his base price of Rs 2 crore. This allowed them to spend Rs 8.4 crore on Auqib Dar, a promising all-rounder from Jammu and Kashmir. The additions of Pathum Nissanka and Ben Duckett mean that KL Rahul will have a dynamic opening partner next season. If their top-order batsmen perform consistently, it could be a successful campaign for the franchise.

• Rajasthan Royals**
• Rajasthan Royals released both Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana before the auction, and they ensured that Ravi Bishnoi joined their team for Rs 7.2 crore. With the addition of Yash Raj Punja and Vignesh Puthur, they now have a strong spin attack consisting of Indian players. They also acquired Adam Milne to support Jofra Archer. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the lack of a power hitter in the lower middle order remains a potential weakness.