IPL 2026 Auction: The Indian Premier League auction for the 2026 season has taken another turn, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announcing the inclusion of nine additional names just days before the event in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier on Tuesday, the board had confirmed a shortlist of 350 players selected from more than 1300 registrations. By evening, a revised roster was released, extending the final tally to 359 players.
Among the new additions, Malaysia's Virandeep Singh stands out as the only cricketer from an Associate nation in the final pool, giving this year's list a unique international spread. The IPL has historically featured a handful of Associate stars, and Singh's presence adds another interesting layer to the auction
dynamics.
Another notable inclusion is Swastik Chikara, a member of last season's title-winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad, who now enters the auction after being released. His late entry could attract attention from franchises looking for budget yet promising domestic options.
The update also brings six more Indian players into the mix:
- Manisankar Murasingh (Tripura)
- Chama Milind (Hyderabad)
- K.L. Shrijith (Karnataka)
- Rahul Raj Namala (Uttarakhand)
- Virat Singh (Jharkhand) - who previously featured in the IPL
- Swastik Chikara
Two overseas professionals complete the list - Australian all-rounder Chris Green, who has previously participated in the IPL, and South African cricketer Ethan Bosch, making his first auction appearance.
The final auction pool now consists of 247 Indian players and 112 overseas candidates. However, with squads largely settled post-retentions, only 77 players are expected to walk away with contracts - 31 from overseas and the rest domestic.
Heading into the event, Kolkata Knight Riders hold the largest remaining purse with ₹64.30 crore and have 13 roster slots open. Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, sit second in spending capability with ₹43.40 crore left and nine places to fill.
With fresh talent added to the auction table and big purses still in play, the build-up to the IPL 2026 auction has only grown more intriguing.
