The IPL 2026 mini-auction is generating significant buzz as the 10 franchises gear up to rebuild their squads for the upcoming season. Set to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, the auction features a pool of 359 players, including 246 Indian and 113 overseas players. With teams like Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders releasing a number of players, a massive bidding war is anticipated, especially for in-demand batters. Here are five Indian batters who could be in the spotlight and trigger intense bidding:
Venkatesh Iyer: The batting all-rounder is a prominent name in the auction. Iyer, who was acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for ₹23.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction, has set his base price at ₹2 crore for the 2026 auction.
Sarfaraz Khan: Sarfaraz Khan remains one of India's most consistent domestic run-scorers. While his IPL opportunities have fluctuated, he has showcased glimpses of brilliance during his stints with various franchises. Sarfaraz has played around 50 IPL matches, scoring roughly 585 runs with a highest score of 67. He has a base price of ₹50 lakh.
Prithvi Shaw: Prithvi Shaw, known for his aggressive batting style, is another Indian batter who could attract attention. Shaw has registered for the auction with a base price of ₹75 lakh.
Abhinav Manohar: Abhinav Manohar is expected to be on the radar of several franchises. He has registered a base price of ₹30 lakh.
Anmolpreet Singh: Anmolpreet Singh has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket for Punjab. This season, Anmolpreet has scored 241 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 172. He has had short IPL stints with SRH and MI before, but he now enters the IPL 2026 auction as one of the most in-form uncapped Indian batters.
Besides these capped and uncapped players, several other Indian batsmen could also be in demand. Rahul Tripathi, Mayank Agarwal and Deepak Hooda have registered a base price of ₹75 lakh.
The availability of 77 slots, including 31 for overseas players, means that franchises will be looking to strategically fill their squads. With ₹2 crore as the highest base price, only Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have kept their base price at that amount among the Indian players. Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (with the largest purse of ₹64.30 crore) and Chennai Super Kings (with ₹43.40 crore) will be key players in the bidding.
The IPL 2026 auction is poised to be an exciting event, with franchises battling to secure the best talent to bolster their batting lineups. The focus on Indian batters reflects the importance of domestic talent in building a successful IPL team.
