IPL 2026 Mini Auction: Players Who Could Break Records at the Hammer

The 2026 IPL mini auction is set to be an exciting one. While some teams will only look to fill small gaps, others may go for big changes. Sides like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians look fairly settled. But teams such as Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings, who struggled in IPL 2025, might release several players and look to rebuild for a strong comeback.

A number of star players are expected to be up for grabs this time. In the past, mini auctions have often seen teams spend heavily on big names. Just last year, Rishabh Pant became the costliest player in IPL history when Lucknow Super Giants signed him for a massive ₹27 crore. That record could well be broken in the upcoming auction.

1. Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson has become a true Rajasthan Royals icon. He has been with the team for 11 seasons, making him their longest-serving player. The Kerala cricketer has also been leading the side since 2021. But now, reports suggest that Samson has had some disagreements with the team management, and he might be open to a trade or even entering the auction.

If Samson’s name comes up in the auction, it could trigger a big bidding war. At 30, he is mainly known as an opener, but in the 2025 Asia Cup he proved his adaptability by scoring valuable runs in the middle order for India. Any team looking for a reliable wicketkeeper and a strong captain may go all out to sign a player of his quality.

2. KL Rahul

There are talks that KL Rahul might be traded to another franchise after playing last season for the Delhi Capitals (DC). The 33-year-old has often faced criticism for his slow strike rate over the years.

But in the previous IPL, he showed a clear shift in his batting style, trying to go after the bowlers right from the start. Rahul can also add a lot of value to teams with his ability to keep wickets. He is also a decent captain with years of experience under his belt. The right-handed batter also showed a lot of flexibility last year, batting at different positions in the order. If DC decide to release him ahead of the auction, he could be the one sending Pant's record for a toss.

3. Cameron Green

Cameron Green was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the 2024 IPL season. But the team decided not to retain him before the mega auction, as he had been sidelined with a back injury. The Australian all-rounder underwent surgery towards the end of 2024 and returned to action at the start of 2025. Green has been in exemplary form in international cricket.

In eight T20Is this year, he has amassed 258 runs at an average of 43 and a strike rate of 168.62. He has been playing purely as a batter, but he is working hard to get his body back in condition for the rigours of fast bowling. If he can start bowling ahead of the mini auction, IPL franchises could break the bank to acquire his services.

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