The gavel has finally fallen at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, capping one of cricket’s most hectic and financially explosive days. The IPL 2026 Auction highlights will reveal that, while this was technically a “mini-auction,” the spending was far from minuscule.
With a paucity of elite players and large payouts for teams like as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), inflation has impacted the IPL market harder than ever before. Records were threatened, egos were hurt, and the landscape of the 2026 season was profoundly altered in only six hours.
The narratives are limitless, ranging from Venkatesh Iyer being the wealthiest Indian all-rounder in history to the Mumbai Indians pulling off a Moneyball miracle with a restricted budget. In this extensive examination, we look at the winners, losers, steals, and teams who appear to be on track to win the championship in May.
The Headliners: The “20-Crore Club” Expands
The main talking point of the IPL 2026 Auction is without a doubt the clubs’ desperate search for all-rounders. As stated in our forecast, the supply-and-demand imbalance resulted in outrageous bids.
1. The Record Breaker: Venkatesh Iyer (KKR – ₹24.75 Crore)
History has been altered. The Kolkata Knight Riders entered the room with the largest purse and bullied everyone to get their guy back. While the Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals pushed the bidding war further, KKR CEO Venky Mysore refused to remove his paddle. Iyer’s unusual ability to open the batting and bowl seam-up has made him the most expensive acquisition of the IPL 2026 auction, costing ₹24.75 crore. It’s a huge gamble, but one that KKR can afford.
2. The Spin Wizard: Ravi Bishnoi (GT – ₹18.50 Crore)
The Gujarat Titans, attempting to replace Mohammed Shami (retired/released), went to spin. In a shocking decision, they spent almost the whole budget on Ravi Bishnoi. The youthful leg-spinner set off a three-way war between LSG, RCB, and GT. Gujarat currently has the league’s most potent spin attack, spearheaded by Rashid Khan.
3. The Overseas Star: Liam Livingstone (PBKS – ₹16.25 Crore)
The Punjab Kings did what Punjab Kings do: they purchased weaponry. Getting Liam Livingstone back to Mohali was a priority. His ability to hit 110-metre sixes and bowl both off-spin and leg-spin makes him an ideal “Impact Player” prospect.
Team-by-Team Analysis: Winners and Losers
To really grasp the IPL 2026 Auction highlights, we must examine how each club used its resources.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
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Funds Spent: ₹62.00 Cr
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Key Buys: Venkatesh Iyer, Lockie Ferguson, Nehal Wadhera.
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Verdict: A+. They had the money and they flexed it. They didn’t just buy players; they bought a title-winning core. Securing Iyer ensures their balance remains perfect. Bringing back Lockie Ferguson adds the express pace they lacked last year. KKR leaves Abu Dhabi as the clear favorites on paper.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
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Funds Spent: ₹41.50 Cr
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Key Buys: Washington Sundar, Josh Hazlewood, Shahrukh Khan.
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Verdict: A. Classic CSK. They waited for the room to exhaust their funds on marquee names, then swooped in for high-utility players. Washington Sundar (₹9 Cr) is a steal for a spinner who can bowl in the powerplay at Chepauk. They have quietly assembled a squad that covers every base without breaking the bank on a single superstar.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
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Funds Spent: ₹16.40 Cr
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Key Buys: T. Natarajan, Harry Brook.
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Verdict: B-. The perennial question remains: “Who will bowl at the death?” RCB spent heavily on Harry Brook to bolster the batting, which was arguably already their strength. Their bowling acquisition of T. Natarajan is good, but is he enough to save them at the Chinnaswamy Stadium? The IPL 2026 Auction highlights for RCB feel like a recurring nightmare of batting bias.
Mumbai Indians (MI)
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Funds Spent: ₹2.75 Cr
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Key Buys: Kartik Tyagi, Unknown Domestic Talents.
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Verdict: B+. Given they had pennies to spend, MI did a miraculous job. They scouted effectively, picking up Kartik Tyagi for his base price a bowler who can clock 150kph. They filled their roster gaps with young talent that nobody else had on their radar. It wasn’t flashy, but it was efficient.
The Steal Deals: Bargains of the Century
Amidst the chaos of the IPL 2026 Auction highlights, a few purchases went under the radar but could define the season.
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Jofra Archer to Rajasthan Royals (₹2.00 Cr Base Price): The risk is his fitness. The reward is a trophy. RR took a punt on their former hero at his base price. If Archer plays even 7 games, this is the heist of the decade.
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Steve Smith to Delhi Capitals (₹2.00 Cr): In a league obsessed with power, DC bought stability. Smith’s experience as a captaincy backup and anchor on tricky Delhi pitches is worth its weight in gold.
- Vidwath Kaverappa to SRH (₹50 Lakh): A domestic giant. Sunrisers Hyderabad picked up the Karnataka pacer for peanuts. Watch out for him as the breakout star of 2026.
The “Uncapped” Millionaires
The IPL makes dreams come true, and 2026 was no different. The IPL 2026 Auction highlights featured several rags-to-riches stories.
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Sameer Rizvi (CSK – ₹8.40 Cr): After a mixed previous stint, Rizvi’s domestic form (hitting 20 sixes in the SMAT) earned him a massive payday. CSK trusts him to be the successor to Ambati Rayudu.
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Abhinav Manohar (GT – ₹6.00 Cr): A pure finisher. The demand for lower-order hitters meant Manohar commanded a premium despite not being an international regular.
Tactical Shifts Observed
Analyzing the bidding patterns reveals how the game is evolving.
1. The “Impact Player” Premium
Teams are ready to spend ₹10 Cr+ for players that are entirely one-dimensional (just batting or bowling) due to the Impact Player rule, which allows for substitution. This is why specialized spinners like Varun Chakravarthy (retained) and aggressive openers cost more prices than “bits and pieces” all-rounders who aren’t excellent at either talent.
2. Pace is Expensive
Any Indian bowler capable of reaching 140kph had their worth tripled. Due to a paucity of indigenous fast bowlers, ordinary pacers went for ₹5-6 Crore.
3. The “Captaincy” Tax
Teams without a definite captain (such as the Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals) were obliged to bid on older players just to fill the leadership hole. This increased the value of veterans like Kane Williamson (purchased by PBKS), who would not have made the starting XI based merely on strike rate.
Looking Ahead: The Squads Are Set
With the auction completed, the ten franchises have their weapons for the next war. The IPL 2026 Auction highlights depict a competition that is more competitive than ever.
KKR appears to be the “Super Team” of the competition. CSK appears to be the sharpest team. MI appears to be a dark horse. And RCB remains a mystery wrapped in a riddle.
The attention has shifted from the auction table to the training camps. Millions have been invested; now the runs and wickets must justify the payouts. The countdown to the season’s start in March has officially begun.
| Player Name | Role | Sold To | Price (INR) |
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-Rounder | KKR | ₹24.75 Cr |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Spinner | Gujarat Titans | ₹18.50 Cr |
| Liam Livingstone | Batter | Punjab Kings | ₹16.25 Cr |
| Harry Brook | Batter | RCB | ₹13.50 Cr |
| Shardul Thakur | All-Rounder | Delhi Capitals | ₹11.00 Cr |
FAQ: IPL 2026 Auction Highlights
Q: Who was the most expensive player in the IPL 2026 Auction? A: Venkatesh Iyer was the most expensive buy, purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a record-breaking ₹24.75 Crore.
Q: Did Mumbai Indians buy any big players? A: Due to a limited purse, MI focused on low-cost buys. Their most notable acquisition was pacer Kartik Tyagi and several uncapped scouts picks.
Q: Which team spent the most money? A: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spent the most, utilizing nearly their entire ₹64 Cr purse to re-assemble their core squad.
Q: Did Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli change teams? A: No. Both legends were retained by their respective franchises (MI and RCB) prior to the auction and were not part of the bidding pool.
Q: When does the IPL 2026 season start? A: The season is expected to kick off in late March 2026, with the official schedule to be released by the BCCI in February.
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