The 10 costliest players of IPL 2026: Who got the biggest bids?

From a ₹25.20 crore Australian all-rounder to two uncapped teenagers fetching ₹14.20 crore apiece, the Abu Dhabi auction was a masterclass in franchise ambition

The IPL 2026 mini-auction, held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025, was anything but mini. With 77 slots to fill and a combined franchise purse of ₹237.55 crore on the table, teams threw caution to the wind and the results were spectacular. Records tumbled, uncapped teenagers became crorepatis, and two franchises Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings firmly established themselves as the evening's dominant forces.



Also Read: CSK IPL history, stats, key moments: All you need to know about 2026 rebuild

Here's a look at the ten costliest players from a night that rewrote IPL auction history.

1. Cameron Green (KKR) — ₹25.20 crore

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive foreign player in the history of the IPL, bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹25.20 crore, surpassing compatriot Mitchell Starc's previous record of ₹24.75 crore set at the 2024 auction. Despite the staggering bid, Green's actual take-home contract will be capped at ₹18 crore under IPL mini-auction rules, with the surplus being redirected to the BCCI's player welfare fund. A fierce bidding war erupted from a ₹2 crore base, with Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and eventually CSK all entering the fray before KKR had the final word. Green is now the third-costliest player in all of IPL history, behind only Rishabh Pant (₹27 crore) and Shreyas Iyer (₹26.75 crore).

2. Matheesha Pathirana (KKR) — ₹18 crore

KKR further cemented their auction dominance by paying ₹18 crore for Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who entered the auction at a base price of ₹2 crore, making him the most expensive Sri Lankan player ever sold at an IPL auction. The slinging yorker specialist adds serious pace firepower to a KKR attack already overflowing with talent.

3. Kartik Sharma (CSK) — ₹14.20 crore

Rajasthan's 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma went to Chennai Super Kings for ₹14.20 crore, entering the auction at a base price of just ₹30 lakh. He became one of the joint most expensive uncapped players in IPL auction history. A remarkable 473-fold return on his base price, Sharma's ascent signals how seriously franchises now view raw domestic talent.

4. Prashant Veer (CSK) — ₹14.20 crore

Uttar Pradesh's 20-year-old left-arm spinner Prashant Veer was also snapped up by CSK for ₹14.20 crore, entering at the same ₹30 lakh base price as Sharma. Together, the two uncapped youngsters represent CSK's bold bet on India's next generation, a combined investment of over ₹28 crore in players yet to earn their first international cap.

5. Liam Livingstone (SRH) — ₹12.96 crore

England's Liam Livingstone earned the highest price among the five English players sold at the auction, heading to Sunrisers Hyderabad for a deal equivalent to approximately ₹12.96 crore. The big-hitting all-rounder brings explosive power hitting and occasional off-spin to an SRH side known for its aggressive batting philosophy.

6. Mustafizur Rahman (KKR) — ₹9.20 crore

KKR added further depth to their bowling attack by signing Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman for ₹9.20 crore. The left-arm pacer, celebrated for his deceptive cutters and slower deliveries, gives KKR a fourth high-value signing of the evening, underlining their surgical approach to squad-building.

7. Josh Inglis (LSG) — ₹8.64 crore

Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants, fetching ₹0.96 million (approximately ₹8.64 crore) at the auction. A dynamic top-order option behind the stumps, Inglis fills a crucial role for an LSG side rebuilding after a turbulent retention cycle.

8. Auqib Nabi (DC) — ₹8.40 crore

Auqib Nabi Dar's ₹8.4 crore deal with Delhi Capitals was one of the major surprises of the auction. The young Kashmiri all-rounder, barely known to casual followers, sparked a frenzied bidding war, reflecting the scouts' intelligence and franchises' hunger for versatile domestic talent.

9. Ravi Bishnoi (RR) — ₹7.20 crore

Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi attracted strong interest before heading to Rajasthan Royals for ₹7.20 crore. The wrist-spinner, who has been a regular in India's T20I setup, returns to a Rajasthan side that will be counting on him to anchor their spin department through the season.

10. Jason Holder / Venkatesh Iyer (GT/RCB) — ₹7.02 crore each

Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹7 crore, while West Indian veteran Jason Holder was picked up by Gujarat Titans for a similar amount. Iyer, a powerful left-hander who can also send down medium pace, gives RCB the kind of batting depth they have long craved. Holder, at his best one of the game's finest all-rounders, adds experience and guile to a GT side still finding its footing.


Also Read: Indian Premier League 2026 Schedule: RCB vs SRH to open season as BCCI unveils first phase; check full match list

The Big Picture

The IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi delivered several headline moments, with franchises willing to spend big to plug key gaps. Teams spent more than ₹215 crore collectively, with 77 players sold including 29 overseas players.

IPL 2026 begins March 26 and runs through May 31.