The Mini-Auction of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 took place on Tuesday, December 16 in Abu Dhabi, and fans across the world were hooked on to their
screens to witness their favourite players go under the hammer, while their favourite franchises splurged their purse on a mixture of talented and experienced cricketers. The dynamics of the auction make it a very interesting event, as the teams do not blindly spend on reputed players, but stick to their strategies, so that they can build a team around their retained core, with one simple aim of lifting the prized silverware.
This season’s auction was no different as 77 players in total were bought collectively by the ten teams, spending an aggregated amount of INR 215.45 crore, which is massive. Cameron Green (INR 25.20 crore) and Matheesha Pathirana (INR 18.00 crore) were the most expensive players to be sold, both going to KKR. However, there were some strong performers, who were brought very cheaply, ending in a steal deal for the sides. CricTracker lists down a few names today.
Here are 5 steal deals of the IPL 2026 Auction
5. Rachin Ravindra (by KKR for INR 2.00 crore)
Rachin Ravindra, the all-rounder from New Zealand, was released by Chennai Super Kings, after the cricketer spent a couple of seasons with them. Across 18 matches for CSK, Ravindra made 413 runs at a slightly underwhelming average of 24.29 and did not pick a single wicket — one of the main reasons behind his release. As a result, he entered the auction pool at a base price of INR 2.00 crore.
In the set of marquee players, the opening round, no one showed interest in the BlackCaps cricketer, as he was transferred to the accelerated round. There, though, it was the Kolkata Knight Riders, being the only side to raise the paddle. As a result, he became theirs for a sweet deal, going at his base amount. With his abilities to bat at dynamic positions and bowl some left-arm spin, he might be of great help to KKR.
4. Wanindu Hasaranga (by Lucknow Super Giants for INR 2.00 crore)
A skilled mystery spinner is alone a very big asset in the modern-day cricket, and Wanindu Hasaranga does not only that, but also provides a genuine pinch hitting option lower down the order with his all-round capabilities. This should have naturally attracted a lot of bidders at the auction, however, the story turned out to be a completely different one.
Lucknow Super Giants became the only side to show interest in the Sri Lankan cricketer, who has both experience and skills on his side. In 37 IPL matches, Hasaranga has picked up 46 wickets at a brilliant economy of 8.41. His batting prowess has never really been idealized at the IPL, but he does boast a strike-rate of 142.30 in his T20 career. He could well turn out to be the pick of the season for LSG.
3. Sarfaraz Khan (by Chennai Super Kings for INR 75 lakh)
Sarfaraz Khan is a name that needs no introduction. He made his IPL debut in 2015 with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and has also played for Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings over the years. However, he had been out of IPL cricket for the last couple of seasons. This time round, he kept his base price at just INR 75 lakh, which came as a surprise.
The cricketer had gone unsold in the opening rounds, but once the accelerated set arrived, it were the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings who added him to their roster for the base amount. Sarfaraz has been going in terrific form in domestic cricket, scoring truckloads of runs across formats for his home team Mumbai. With international exposure behind his back, the right-hand batter is expected to play a key role,
2. David Miller (by Delhi Capitals for INR 2.00 crore)
An attacking batter in the middle-order, who also has ability to finish the innings and bat at multiple positions, David Miller is no stranger to the Indian Premier League. The Southpaw also has the experience of captaining Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), and is among the most notable overseas batters to have graced the marquee tournament, representing four teams in the past, with 3077 runs in 141 matches.
At a base price of 2.00 crore, the bidding war did not even take off, as Delhi Capitals seemed to be the only side with interest in the left-handed seasoned campaigner. At that price, the South Africa international can play a crucial role in DC's middle-order, as they are still in the hunt for their maiden title-winning season in the tournament.
1. Quinton de Kock (by Mumbai Indians for INR 1.00 crore)
Another Proteas player on the list is the wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock. Having played 115 IPL matches for six sides, de Kock saw him being the most successful with Mumbai Indians, for whom he has 1329 runs in just 43 games between 2019 and 2021. He was also a part of the two victorious campaigns for the Mumbai-based team, also forming a memorable opening partnership with ex-skipper Rohit Sharma.
Akash Ambani, the owner of the franchise, was the only name to bid for the experienced veteran, who also provides a solid overseas wicketkeeper and an opening batter to the side. Ambani revealed that MI wanted to recreate the combination that led them to consecutive title wins, and that there is nothing like getting de Kock for as low as his base price. All MI fans will be taking a trip down the memory lane when Rohit and de Kock open once again in IPL 2026.
