IPL 2026 Mini Auction surprised fans as Cameron Green became the priciest foreign player, while star players like Liam Livingstone, Prithvi Shaw, and Sarfaraz Khan remained unsold, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the bidding war.
The Story of Unsold Players and Record-Breaking Bids
Abu Dhabi: The IPL 2026 mini auction surprised both fans and teams this year. The event turned out to be unpredictable, with Australia’s all-rounder Cameron Green becoming the most expensive foreign player in IPL history, while several well-known and experienced players went unsold.
Cameron Green stunned everyone with his price at the IPL 2026 mini auction. He became the most expensive foreign player in IPL history when Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for ₹25.20 crore—a record-breaking purchase. This signing significantly strengthens KKR’s squad for the upcoming season.
Cameron Green Becomes IPL 2026’s Most Expensive Overseas Player, Sold to KKR for ₹25.20 Crore
Despite the excitement, several star players went unsold. This included in-form Indian batsmen Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw. Both had a base price of ₹75 lakh but could not attract any bids.
Other prominent unsold players include Jake Fraser-McGurk, Devon Conway, Gus Atkinson, Rachin Ravindra, Liam Livingstone, Vian Mulder, Shrikar Bharat, Jonny Bairstow, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Jamie Smith, Deepak Hooda, Matt Henry, Akashdeep, Shivam Mavi, and Gerald Coetzee.
IPL 2026 Mini Auction begins in Abu Dhabi
The biggest surprise was England’s star all-rounder Liam Livingstone remaining unsold. Livingstone had set his base price at ₹2 crore and was expected to be picked by several teams as an all-rounder. However, no franchise showed interest in the first round of the auction.
The fact that Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw went unsold shows that in the auction, just reputation or current form is not enough. Teams make purchases based on strategic needs and purse constraints rather than player popularity alone.
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Overall, the IPL 2026 mini auction highlighted a mix of expectations and outcomes. While records were broken, many big names could not find buyers, showcasing the unpredictable and strategic nature of IPL auctions.
