The IPL 2026 mini-auction is all set to be a riveting affair. Teams will be looking to consolidate their sides at the grand event that is scheduled to be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
As many as INR 237 crore can be splashed in by the 10 franchises today in the eagerly-anticipated mini-auction. Initially, 350 players were to be on the auction list, but that has now been increased to 369 after some last-minute additions.
Six players have been named in Set 1, and they will be up for grabs first,
once the event commences from 2:30 PM IST.
Which 6 players will go under the hammer first in IPL 2026 mini-auction?
Cameron Green - The Australian all-rounder is expected to be the highest-paid cricketer at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. He is among the six players in Set 1. Cameron Green might as well break Rishabh Pant's record as the most expensive player in IPL auction history. The wicketkeeper-batter went to Lucknow Super Giants for INR 27 crore last year. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the frontrunners to secure Green's services as they have the highest purse in the auction.
Devon Conway - The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter has been released by Chennai Super Kings and will look for new teams at the auction table. He had a great start to his IPL career at CSK but failed to live up to his potential last season. Conway is a reliable top-order batter when in form and can also keep wickets if required.
Jake Fraser-McGurk - The flamboyant Australian batter was released by Delhi Capitals after a disappointing outing with the bat in IPL 2025. Jake Fraser-McGurk has also been unable to cement his spot in Australia's T20I squad. While form may not be on his side at the moment, teams will know that once he gets going, he will be difficult to stop.
Sarfaraz Khan - The Mumbai batter has not been able to do justice to his talent in the IPL. Sarfaraz Khan went unsold at the IPL 2025 mega-auction. However, he has worked on his fitness now, and will be eager to make a return to the cash-rich league. The right-handed batter has been playing some fantastic cricket in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ai Trophy. Before the auction, Sarfaraz has scored a breathtaking half-century against Rajasthan.
David Miller - The South African veteran has been around in the IPL since a very long time. After spending a few successful seasons with the Gujarat Titans, Miller moved to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of IPL 2025. This moved didn't turn out to be a fruitful one and the southpaw was dropped from the playing XI midway through the tournament. Teams who are looking for a dependable finisher could sign Miller.
Prithvi Shaw - Once considered a future superstar of Indian cricket, form, fitness, and disciplinary issues have haunted Prithvi Shaw's career. He went unsold at the IPL auction last year. The right-handed batter subsequently moved to Maharashtra from Mumbai. In the ongoing domestic season, Prithvi has put in some impressive performances for Maharashtra. There are a few teams looking for domestic openers and the 26-year-old fits the bill perfectly.
