IPL 2026 Mega Auction: 5 Players Who Will Break the Bank
From Rishabh Pant to Shreyas Iyer — here are the players expected to cross ₹20 Cr.
IPL 2026 Mega Auction: 10 Players Who Will Trigger Bidding Wars (Full List + Predicted Price)
Published: 26 November 2025
Reading time: 9 minutes
Author: SportsDesk
The IPL 2026 mega auction is exactly 10 days away (6–7 December, Jeddah).
After the biggest retention shake-up in history, only 46 players were retained. That means over 500 spots are up for grabs — and purse money is at an all-time high (₹120 Cr per team).
Here are the 10 players guaranteed to break the bank, with realistic predicted final prices based on current buzz, team needs, and RTM strategy.
1. Rishabh Pant – The ₹27 Crore Man?
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹25–28 crore
- Interested teams: PBKS, RCB, LSG, DC (RTM likely)
- Why? Best wicket-keeper batsman in India + proven finisher + captaincy experience. Punjab and RCB are desperate for a left-handed dynamite in the middle order.
Insider buzz: One franchise owner reportedly said, “If Pant goes above 25, we’re out.” → Someone will definitely cross 25.
2. Shreyas Iyer – Leadership Premium
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹22–26 crore
- Interested teams: KKR (RTM), PBKS, GT
- Why? Took KKR to IPL 2024 title. Calm under pressure. Perfect for teams needing a No.4 anchor + captain.
3. Kagiso Rabada – Death Bowling King
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹18–22 crore
- Interested teams: CSK, MI, PBKS, DC
- Why? Best T20 death bowler on the planet. 29 wickets in IPL 2024 at 18.7 economy in last 4 overs.
4. KL Rahul – The ₹20 Crore Opener
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹18–21 crore
- Interested teams: RCB (dream reunion), DC, GT
- Why? Still one of the cleanest strikers of a cricket ball. Needs a fresh start after LSG fallout.
5. Trent Boult – Last Dance at ₹18 Cr?
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹16–19 crore
- Interested teams: MI (reunion), RR (RTM), CSK
- Why? New-ball wizard. Swings it both ways. Proven IPL legend.
6. Arshdeep Singh – Indian Pace Sensation
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹17–20 crore
- Interested teams: PBKS (RTM very likely), KKR, SRH
- Why? 19 wickets in T20 World Cup 2024. Deadly with yorkers. Only 25 years old.
7. Yuzvendra Chahal – Wrist Spin Royalty
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹16–18 crore
- Interested teams: RR (RTM), PBKS, RCB
- Why? Highest wicket-taker in IPL history. Still unplayable on Indian pitches.
8. Jos Buttler – The White-Ball Superman
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹18–22 crore
- Interested teams: RR (RTM almost certain), PBKS, DC
- Why? IPL 2022 Orange Cap winner. Can win games single-handedly.
9. Mohammed Shami – If Fit, ₹20 Cr+
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹15–20 crore (fitness dependent)
- Interested teams: GT (RTM), CSK, MI
- Why? Best Indian Test bowler. Swing + seam + experience.
10. Heinrich Klaasen – The Finisher Everyone Wants
- Base price: ₹2 crore
- Expected final: ₹18–23 crore
- Interested teams: SRH (RTM), RCB, CSK
- Why? 400+ runs at 180+ SR in IPL 2024. Best middle-order destroyer in world cricket right now.
Top 3 Dark Horses (Under-the-Radar Gems)
| Player | Base Price | Could Reach | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Suryavanshi | ₹30 lakh | ₹8–12 crore | 14-year-old who hit 6 sixes in an over |
| Sameer Rizvi | ₹75 lakh | ₹6–10 crore | CSK’s “next Dhoni” from 2024 |
| Kumar Kushagra | ₹50 lakh | ₹5–8 crore | Wicket-keeper + power hitter |
Final Thoughts
This will be the richest IPL auction ever.
Total purse: ₹1200+ crore across 10 teams.
At least 3 players will cross ₹25 crore — book it.
Which player do you think will become the most expensive ever?
Drop your predictions in the comments!
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