IPL 2026 auction: 5 Indian batters in focus

IPL 2026 auction: The anticipation is building as the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction returns in Abu Dhabi on December 16. With 359 players in the fray — 246 Indians and 113 overseas. Teams are looking to finalise their combinations ahead of the 2026 season. Many fans were surprised by last month’s retention list, with top franchises including Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings letting go of several notable names.

Over the years, IPL history has shown that the teams with the right balance often go deep into the tournament — and even win it. This time, with many squads looking to rebuild their core, the bidding wars are expected to get even more intense. Batters, especially openers and middle-order anchors, usually attract heavy attention at auctions.

Here’s a look at five Indian batters who could command maximum interest and the big bucks at the IPL 2026 auction.


1. Sarfaraz Khan: Sarfaraz Khan, who has seen several tough phases in recent years, is still searching for a consistent place in the Indian team. His earlier international entry came on the back of a stellar domestic season. The 28-year-old Mumbaikar is an aggressive batter with a wide range of shots, and a strong IPL 2026 showing could revive his national-team prospects.

Sarfaraz has played 50 IPL matches, scoring 585 runs at a strike rate of 130. His last appearance came in 2023 for Delhi Capitals. With a base price of ₹75 lakh and recent success in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he is expected to attract multiple bidders. His IPL experience and ability to strengthen the middle order, along with finishing skills, make him a valuable option.

2. Rahul Tripathi: At 34, Rahul Tripathi brings experience, versatility, and an array of innovative strokes. Debuting in 2017 with Rising Pune Supergiant, Tripathi has represented five different franchises. He gained early attention after winning the BCCI’s Best U-25 Cricketer award in 2014 and later became Maharashtra’s leading run-scorer in the 2018–19 Ranji Trophy.

Tripathi played for Chennai Super Kings in 2025. With 100 IPL games under his belt, 2,291 runs, a healthy strike rate of 138, and 12 fifty-plus scores, Tripathi remains a dependable middle-order batter. His experience and stroke-making ability could spark a bidding tussle this year.

3. Prithvi Shaw: Once hailed as Indian cricket’s ‘next big thing’, Prithvi Shaw’s career has seen dramatic highs and lows. He became a sensation in 2013 after scoring 546 runs at age 14 in the Harris Shield — a feat that drew comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar, who had retired just a week earlier. Shaw made his India debut in 2018, becoming the second-youngest Indian to score a hundred on Test debut.

But inconsistency and off-field issues saw him fall out of favour, and he went unsold in the 2025 mega-auction. Shaw, who represented Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2024, enters this mini-auction with a base price of ₹75 lakh. He has shown signs of return to form with two fifties in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Shaw has 1,892 runs from 79 IPL matches at a strike rate of 148, including 14 fifty-plus scores — numbers that could tempt teams seeking an explosive opener.

4. Abhinav Manohar: The 31-year-old Bengaluru batter made an impressive T20 debut for Karnataka in 2021, scoring an unbeaten 70 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before continuing that form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His performances earned him a place with Gujarat Titans in 2022.

Known for his clean hitting and composure as a lower-order finisher, Manohar often closed out matches for GT. He played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2025 but had an underwhelming season, leading to his release.

With a base price of ₹30 lakh, Manohar brings promise and finishing skills. Across 20 IPL innings, he has scored 292 runs at a strike rate of 124 — decent numbers for a lower-order batter who can accelerate at will.

5. Venkatesh Iyer: The 30-year-old Indore all-rounder made his first class T20 debut in 2015, but his breakout came in the 2021–22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 155 runs at an average of 51.66. He carried that form into the Vijay Hazare Trophy, earning a contract with KKR in IPL 2021.

Iyer quickly became a key player for KKR, even scoring a blazing 104 off 51 balls against Mumbai Indians in 2023. In 2025, he returned to KKR for a massive ₹23.75 crore — making him one of the most expensive players in IPL history. But his season was disappointing, with just 142 runs in seven innings.

This year, he enters the auction with a base price of ₹2 crore. His power-hitting and match-winning potential could still make him a sought-after pick.