The IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi had no shortage of excitement. From record-breaking bids to bold strategies and a few confusing calls, the December 16 event reshaped how teams look ahead to the new season. In total, franchises spent INR 215.45 crore to fill 77 slots, making it one of the most impactful mini-auctions in recent years.
Cameron Green grabbed the biggest headlines after being snapped up for a staggering INR 25.20 crore. Chennai Super Kings also shocked many by spending INR 14.20 crore each on uncapped players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, making them the joint most expensive uncapped signings in IPL history. Now that the auction dust has settled, some teams look well set, while others seem to have left serious gaps. Here is how every franchise fared, ranked from best to most questionable.
Kolkata Knight Riders set the standard
Kolkata Knight Riders produced close to a perfect auction. With the biggest purse and 13 slots to fill, they came in with a clear plan and executed it brilliantly.
Cameron Green adds top-level all-round strength and helps fill the Andre Russell role. Matheesha Pathirana fixes their long-standing issues at the death. Finn Allen and Tim Seifer step in as wicketkeeper-openers after the exits of de Kock and Gurbaz. Mustafizur Rahman and Akash Deep strengthen the bowling group
KKR covered every base without overcomplicating things, setting the benchmark for the rest.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru squeeze maximum value
RCB showed how smart planning can stretch a small budget. With only INR 16.40 crore to spend, the defending champions made every rupee count.
Venkatesh Iyer at INR 7 crore, down from INR 23.75 crore last season, is outstanding value. Jordan Coxt at INR 75 lakh could be one of the steals of the auction, offering flexibility as a keeper-batter. Jacob Duffy provides solid overseas pace cover for Josh Hazlewood
RCB focused on balance and value rather than flashy names, and it worked well.
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Delhi Capitals build smartly across departments
Delhi Capitals quietly put together a strong and well-rounded squad, addressing all their key needs.
Ben Duckett brings the aggressive opening option they were missing. David Miller at INR 2 crore is an exceptional value for a proven finisher. Pathum Nissanka adds depth at the top of the order. Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson boost the pace of the attack. The INR 8.40 crore punt on Auqib Dar Nabi could turn out to be a masterstroke
DC looks far more complete heading into the new season.
Gujarat Titans keep things simple
Gujarat Titans did not need to make big moves, and they stuck to a sensible, low-risk approach.
Jason Holder adds experience, middle-order stability, and pace bowling. Tom Banton offers explosive batting cover.
With a settled core already in place, GT avoided unnecessary risks. It may seem conservative given their INR 12.90 crore purse, but their consistency suggests it was the right call.
Chennai Super Kings take a bold leap
CSK’s auction strategy was one of the most talked-about, and for good reason.
Spending INR 28.40 crore on uncapped players Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma is a massive gamble and a clear shift from their usual experience-first approach. This move used up nearly two-thirds of their INR 43.40 crore purse. As a result, they missed out on elite all-rounders like Cameron Green. Matt Henry and Akeal Hosein add quality but not game-changing firepower
This approach could redefine squad building or prove costly if it does not pay off.
Rajasthan Royals fix bowling but weaken batting
Rajasthan Royals focused heavily on sorting out their bowling problems.
Ravi Bishnoi at INR 7.20 crore fills the spin gap left by Hasaranga and Theekshana. Adam Milne reduces their heavy reliance on Jofra Archer
However, trading away Sanju Samson without locking in strong top-order replacements leaves the batting looking fragile.
Punjab Kings stay steady
As runners-up in 2025, Punjab Kings clearly felt there was no need for major changes.
Cooper Connolly steps in for Glenn Maxwell with aggressive batting and left-arm spin. Ben Dwarshuis provides backup for Lockie Ferguson. Just four signings highlight how settled the squad already is
PBKS chose stability over experimentation.
Sunrisers Hyderabad raise concerns
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s auction left several unanswered questions.
Liam Livingstone looks like a big overpayment for an all-rounder yet to fully deliver in the IPL. The lack of a proper spinner to replace Adam Zampa stands out. A suitable replacement for Mohammed Shami was also not secured
Despite their strong batting lineup, the bowling attack looks thin for a title challenge.
Lucknow Super Giants make puzzling choices
Lucknow Super Giants struggled to get the balance right.
Paying INR 8.60 crore for Josh Inglis, who will miss a large part of the season, seems risky. They missed the chance to sign David Miller, who went to Delhi for just INR 2 crore. Wanindu Hasaranga at INR 2 crore is a smart replacement for Ravi Bishnoi, but the lineup still looks too top-heavy
The lack of proven lower-order firepower could hurt them.
Mumbai Indians are difficult to judge
Mumbai Indians are hard to assess based on the auction alone.
Retaining 20 players left them with just INR 2.75 crore to spend. Quinton de Kock at INR 1 crore is an excellent value. However, with such a small purse, a proper auction strategy was never possible
Their real work was done during the retention phase rather than at the auction table.
As IPL 2026 approaches, these auction decisions will soon be tested on the field, separating the smart risks from the costly mistakes.
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