The IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi redefined the league’s financial landscape, as franchises bypassed established international icons to break all-time records for uncapped domestic talent.
December 17, 2025: The IPL 2026 auction room in Abu Dhabi witnessed a seismic shift in player valuations on Tuesday, as franchises pivoted toward high-potential domestic talent over underperforming established stars. The day was defined by “overnight crorepatis”—teenagers who saw their base prices skyrocket by over 4,600%—and veteran internationals who saw their market value plummet.
The Gold Mine: 5 Biggest Base Price Multipliers
Franchises showed unprecedented confidence in uncapped Indian talent, leading to astronomical bidding wars for domestic performers.
| Player | Team | Base Price | Final Price | Multiplier |
| Prashant Veer & Kartik Sharma | CSK | ₹30 Lakh | ₹14.20 Crore | 47.3x |
| Auqib Nabi Dar | DC | ₹30 Lakh | ₹8.40 Crore | 28.0x |
| Mangesh Yadav | RCB | ₹30 Lakh | ₹5.20 Crore | 17.3x |
| Cameron Green | KKR | ₹2 Crore | ₹25.20 Crore | 12.6x |
| Tejasvi Dahiya | KKR | ₹30 Lakh | ₹3.00 Crore | 10.0x |
- CSK’s Record Bet: Chennai Super Kings rewritten the history books by making 20-year-old left-arm spinner Prashant Veer (UP) and 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma (Rajasthan) the joint-most expensive uncapped players in IPL history.
- The Green Record: Australia’s Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player ever at ₹25.20 crore. However, due to the BCCI’s salary cap for overseas players in mini-auctions, he will receive ₹18 crore, with the remaining amount going toward player welfare funds.
Salary Swings: The Biggest Winners and Losers
The auction proved a brutal meritocracy, rewarding recent form and punishing those who failed to justify previous high price tags.
🚀 The Biggest Winners
- Mustafizur Rahman (KKR): Up ₹7.20 crore (+360%). The Bangladeshi “Fizz” saw his salary jump from ₹2 crore to ₹9.20 crore after a fierce bidding war between CSK, DC, and KKR.
- Josh Inglis (LSG): Up ₹6 crore (+230%). Despite concerns over limited availability, the Australian keeper-batter secured a massive ₹8.60 crore deal.
- Cameron Green (KKR): Up ₹7.70 crore (+44%). After missing the previous season due to surgery, Green reclaimed his superstar status with a record-breaking return.
📉 The Biggest Losers
- Venkatesh Iyer (RCB): Down ₹16.75 crore (-70.5%). Formerly retained by KKR for a massive ₹23.75 crore, Iyer’s underwhelming 2025 season saw him fall to ₹7 crore as he moves to Bengaluru.
- David Miller (DC): Down ₹5.50 crore (-73.3%). “Killer” Miller’s valuation crashed from ₹7.50 crore to just ₹2 crore following a dip in form.
- Anrich Nortje (LSG): Down ₹4.50 crore (-69.2%). Injury woes and inconsistency caused the South African pacer to slide to his base price of ₹2 crore.
The Takeaway: Performance is the Only Currency
The IPL 2026 auction highlights a clear trend: no established star is “safe” from a massive pay cut if they fail to perform. Conversely, the ₹28.40 crore investment by CSK in two teenagers signals that franchises are now willing to pay international-level fees for domestic players who dominate the Syed Mushtaq Ali and Ranji Trophy circuits.