IPL 2026 Auction: Uncapped Teenagers Become Overnight Multi-Crorepatis As Stars Face Reality Check

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.

Disha Rojhe