NewsIPL 2026 auction – De Kock added to 350-player shortlist, Green among first names
A 350-player line-up will go under the hammer on 16 December in Abu Dhabi, the BCCI confirmed on Tuesday. Of those, 40 have opted for the highest base price of INR 2 crore, with only two Indians – Venkatesh Iyer and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi – taking that top bracket.
Australia’s Cameron Green, widely tipped to trigger a bidding frenzy, has categorised himself purely as a batter and will be part of the opening set. “The IPL’s a fantastic competition and I’m keen to test myself at the top of the order,” Green said during Australia’s recent T20I series. South Africa’s Quinton de Kock, Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage and the versatile George Linde have all been added to the final list after late requests from franchises, taking the number of new names added since the longlist to 35.
Breakdown and order
• 240 Indian, 110 overseas players
• Auction opens with capped batters, all-rounders, wicketkeeper-batters, quicks and spinners – in that order – before moving to the uncapped pool.
• An accelerated phase kicks in after player No. 70, allowing teams to circle back quickly on unclaimed names.
Seventy-seven slots are up for grabs overall, 31 reserved for overseas signings. Kolkata Knight Riders possess the deepest purse – INR 64.30 crore – and must fill 13 places, of which six can be overseas. “Room for half a dozen imports gives us flexibility, but it also puts pressure on getting the first calls right,” a senior KKR analyst noted.
With a mini-auction there is usually less scope for surprises, yet recent seasons suggest at least one uncapped player will command a life-changing sum. Bishnoi, sounding typically measured, said, “Auctions are beyond a player’s control; all you can do is keep bowling well.”
The full player list is expected to be circulated to franchises later this week.
