The IPL 2026 auction reinvigorated the stress on young talents, as franchises went gung-ho on uncapped yet top Indian talents.
Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana were the two biggest buys as KKR snapped both big names for a combined fee of Rs 43.20 crore.
While Green's blockbuster deal grabbed headlines, the auction's broader narrative highlighted the remarkable rise of uncapped Indian talents. Chennai Super Kings, the team that pushed hardest in Green's bidding war, redirected their focus to youth, splashing Rs 14.20 crore each on 20-year-old left-arm spinner Prashant Veer and 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma, shattering the previous uncapped record and underscoring franchises' growing investment in emerging domestic players.
Like every state, Jammu and Kashmir cricket had representatives in the IPL auction. Although the majority of the players went unsold, Auqib Nabi was bought for a significant amount.
Auqib Nabi headlines J&K Coup
Among the big uncapped buys, Auqib Nabi led the charge as the pacer was picked for Rs 8.40 crore by Delhi Capitals. The pacer became the most expensive J&K player bought in an IPL auction, as he surpassed Rasikh Salam Dar, who was bought by RCB for Rs 6 crore in IPL 2025 mega auction.
Jammu and Kashmir has strong presence in IPL 2026
With the acquisition of Nabi, the Jammu and Kashmir contingent grows in the IPL 2026. A total of four players are set to feature from the northern state next season. Umran Malik was retained by KKR ahead of the auction, while Abdul Samad was also retained by the Lucknow Super Giants. Yudhvir Charak is the final name in the list, who was retained by the Rajasthan Royals.
Rasikh Dar, who is a Kashmir-born player, is playing for RCB, but the pacer currently plays for Baroda in domestic cricket.
Jammu and Kashmir Players in IPL 2026
| Player | Team |
| Auqib Nabi | Delhi Capitals |
| Umran Malik | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Abdul Samad | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Yudhvir Singh Charak | Rajasthan Royals |
