IPL 2026 Auction: Full Squads, Top Buys and Team Lists Update

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction concluded on 16 December 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where all ten franchises finalised their squads for the upcoming season. Ahead of the March-to-May tournament, teams used the mini-auction to fill remaining slots after retention lists were submitted earlier in November 2025. A total of 1,355 players registered for the auction, with 369 shortlisted and 77 ultimately sold across the ten franchises.

IPL 2026 Auction: Full Squad Updates and Team Lists

The auction featured record bids and key strategic signings. Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, while uncapped players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma drew major bids. A total of 79 players went unsold, finalising the auction process and confirming the full squad compositions for IPL 2026.

The IPL 2026 auction produced several notable outcomes that grabbed headlines. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) purchased him for ₹25.20 crore. This bid also ranks among the highest overall in IPL history.

Two uncapped Indian players, Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, fetched significant attention when

(CSK) bought both for ₹14.20 crore each, making them the joint-most expensive uncapped buys in IPL history.

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Another major auction success was Matheesha Pathirana, who was snapped up by KKR for ₹18 crore, becoming one of the pricier pace prospects in the auction. Across the board, IPL franchises spent a combined ₹215.45 crore on 77 players, including 29 overseas players.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Partnership

As per IPL regulations, each franchise can register a maximum of 25 players, including up to eight overseas players. The IPL 2026 auction completed all squad lists following the retention window.

Ruturaj Gaikwad (₹18Cr), Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, Noor Ahmad, Rachin Ravindra

Top Buys and Auction Highlights

Prashant Veer (₹14.2Cr), Kartik Sharma (₹14.2Cr), Rahul Chahar (₹5.2Cr), Matt Henry (₹2Cr)

Sanju Samson acquired via trade from RR (₹18Cr) – not retention/auction

Team-Wise Squad Composition

Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell

Cameron Green (₹25.2Cr), Matheesha Pathirana (₹18Cr), Mustafizur Rahman (₹9.2Cr), Tejasvi Singh (₹3Cr)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Rishabh Pant (₹27Cr), Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis

Josh Inglis (₹8.6Cr), Anrich Nortje (₹2Cr), Wanindu Hasaranga (₹2Cr)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Mohammed Shami acquired via trade from SRH (₹10Cr)

(₹21Cr), Josh Hazlewood, Rajat Patidar

Venkatesh Iyer (₹7Cr), Mangesh Yadav (₹5.2Cr), Jacob Duffy (₹2Cr)

Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc

Auqib Dar (₹8.4Cr), Pathum Nissanka (₹4Cr), Kyle Jamieson (₹2Cr)

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer

Ravi Bishnoi (₹7.2Cr), Adam Milne (₹2.4Cr), Donovan Ferreira (₹1Cr)

Ravindra Jadeja acquired via trade from CSK (₹14Cr)

Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj

Jason Holder (₹7Cr), Tom Banton (₹2Cr), Luke Wood (₹75L)

Heinrich Klaasen (₹23Cr), Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma

Liam Livingstone (₹13Cr), Jack Edwards (₹3Cr), Salil Arora (₹1.5Cr)

Jasprit Bumrah (₹18Cr), Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma

Quinton de Kock (₹1Cr), Mitchell Santner (₹1Cr), Sherfane Rutherford (₹30L)

Shardul Thakur acquired via trade from LSG (₹2Cr)

Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75Cr), Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Ben Dwarshuis (₹4.4Cr), Cooper Connolly (₹3Cr)

A total of 79 players went unsold at the IPL 2026 auction, according to official auction summaries. The list included both overseas and

who had registered for bidding but did not secure contracts during the event.

Reported unsold names included Jonny Bairstow, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Alzarri Joseph, Gus Atkinson, Deepak Hooda and Karn Sharma. As per IPL rules, unsold players remain eligible for mid-season replacement signings if franchises require injury cover.

1. •
   How many players were sold at the IPL 2026 auction?

At the auction held on 16 December 2025 in Abu Dhabi, UAE, a total of 77 players were sold across ten franchises from a shortlisted pool of 369 players.

1. •
   Who was the most expensive player at the auction?

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was bought for ₹25.20 crore, becoming the most expensive overseas player.

1. •
   Will Dhoni play the 2026 IPL?

Yes, MS Dhoni is part of the Chennai Super Kings squad for IPL 2026.