IPL 2026 Auction: Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran has emerged as a surprise inclusion in the IPL 2026 auction, with reports suggesting that his name has been added to the final list of registered players just days before the bidding begins in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
As per Cricbuzz, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved a limited number of late entries to the auction register. Easwaran is believed to be among those additions, with franchises expected to receive an updated player spreadsheet during a pre-auction briefing scheduled for Monday evening.
The revised list is understood to include names that were not part of the original provisional roster released earlier.
The initial auction list featured 350 players, but
Easwaran's name was missing despite being recommended by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). The 30-year-old right-hander had reportedly entered the process with a base price of Rs 30 lakh. However, a late push from an unnamed IPL franchise is said to have prompted his re-inclusion, bringing him back into the auction conversation at the eleventh hour.
Easwaran is no stranger to the IPL auction cycle. He has registered in previous editions, including the IPL 2025 mega auction, but is yet to earn his first IPL contract. Traditionally viewed as a red-ball specialist, Easwaran has built a strong reputation in India's domestic circuit and has been a regular feature in the India A setup over the past few seasons. He also toured England earlier this year as part of the senior Indian Test squad.
Despite consistent domestic performances, an international debut has remained elusive, with recent omissions from home Test series narrowing his immediate prospects. However, Easwaran has made a strong case for himself in white-ball cricket through an impressive Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 campaign.
Representing Bengal, he scored 266 runs in seven innings at an average of 44.33, striking at an impressive 152. His standout knock came in the form of an unbeaten 130 off 66 balls against Punjab, underlining his growing adaptability in the T20 format. Overall, Easwaran has now crossed 1,200 T20 runs, including two centuries and six fifties.
With franchises closely monitoring Indian top-order options and teams finalising their plans in Abu Dhabi, Easwaran's late inclusion adds an intriguing layer to the IPL 2026 auction narrative.
