IPL 2026 Auction Fever: 1,355 Stars Enter the Fray – Maxwell Out, Green & Smith In at Rs 2Cr!
December 2, 2025 – The IPL mini-auction pot is bubbling over with excitement! With 1,355 players registering for the one-day extravaganza on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, teams are gearing up to fill 77 slots (including 31 overseas) using a whopping ₹237.55 crore collective purse. KKR leads the pack with ₹64.30 crore, followed by CSK’s ₹43.40 crore – plenty of firepower for smart buys.
Big shock? Glenn Maxwell, the Big Show of 13 IPL seasons and 141 games, has bowed out. “After unforgettable seasons, I’ve decided not to enter this year,” he posted on Instagram, hinting at a potential IPL farewell. His absence leaves a void in all-round talent, but the list brims with gems: 16 capped Indians, 43 overseas at Rs 2 crore base, and stars from 14 nations. From Cameron Green’s Aussie power to Wanindu Hasaranga’s Sri Lankan spin, let’s dive into the hottest names and what to watch!
Auction Snapshot: Key Numbers
- Total Players: 1,355 (1,062 Indians, 293 Overseas)
- Capped Indians: 16 (2 at Rs 2Cr: Bishnoi, Iyer)
- Overseas Capped: 196 (43 at Rs 2Cr)
- Uncapped: 1,121
- Associates: 22
- Slots to Fill: 77 (31 Overseas)
- Total Purse: ₹237.55 Cr
Maxwell’s Shock Exit: End of an IPL Era?
Glenn Maxwell’s IPL journey? A rollercoaster of highs (513 runs in 2021) and heartbreaks (just 100 runs in 2024-25). Bought for ₹4.2Cr by PBKS last mega-auction, his poor form led to release. Now, the 37-year-old Aussie all-rounder calls time: “Grateful for the memories, challenges, and India’s unmatched energy. Hopefully see you soon.” Fans mourn – his helicopter sixes lit up stadiums, but recent dips (52 in 2024, 48 in 2025) sealed the fade-out.
Impact? Scarcity for explosive overseas all-rounders. Teams eye alternatives like Green or Hasaranga. Maxwell joins retirees like Andre Russell (now KKR coach) and PSL-bound Faf du Plessis – IPL’s Big Bash feels a tad quieter.
Top Indian Stars: 16 Capped Guns Ready to Fire
India’s capped contingent is slim but sparkling – 16 names, led by Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat, and Rahul Chahar. Standouts:
- Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 2Cr): KKR all-rounder – explosive batter, handy seamer.
- Ravi Bishnoi (Rs 2Cr): Mystery spinner – 2025 breakout with PBKS.
- Akash Deep: Bengal pacer – raw speed for middle overs.
- Deepak Hooda: RR utility man – batting flair, part-time spin.
- Sarfaraz Khan: Mumbai middle-order rock – domestic beast.
- Prithvi Shaw: Delhi opener – genius with baggage.
- Umesh Yadav: Veteran seamer – experience for death overs.
Uncapped Indians? 928 hopefuls, including 118 IPL vets – depth aplenty for bargains.
Overseas Heat: 43 at Rs 2Cr – Green’s Green Light?
Aussies dominate the elite bracket: Cameron Green (all-round wizard), Steve Smith (batting GOAT), Josh Inglis (even with wedding doubts). Full Rs 2Cr squad:
Rs 2Cr Stars
- India: Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer
- Afghanistan: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq
- Australia: Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith
- Bangladesh: Mustafizur Rahman
- England: Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Smith
- New Zealand: Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra
- South Africa: Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
- Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana
- West Indies: Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph
Shakib Al Hasan (Rs 1Cr)? IPL vet with 71 games. Adithya Ashok (NZ, Indian-origin spinner, Rs 75L)? Wild card.
Auction Logistics: Abu Dhabi Showdown on Dec 16
One-day blitz: Teams shortlist by Dec 5 (from 1,355 to ~300). Purse leaders: KKR (₹64.3Cr), CSK (₹43.4Cr). Slots: 77 total, 31 overseas max. Retained? 173 players (e.g., Kohli at RCB, Bumrah at MI).
Strategy? Balance uncapped gems with capped firepower. Maxwell’s void? Green or Livingstone fill?
Why This Auction Thrills: Post-Retention Shake-Up
Retention deadline (Nov 15) left gaps: PBKS eyes spinners, RCB batsmen. Overseas from 14 nations (Afghanistan to USA, even Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh at Rs 30L). Buzz? Smith’s return? Conway’s consistency? Pathirana’s yorkers?
Final list prunes post-Dec 3 franchise inputs. Expect fireworks – IPL’s mini-mega moment!
Final Buzz: Maxwell Out, Stars In – Auction Awaits!
1,355 hopefuls, Maxwell’s mic drop, Green’s glow – IPL 2026 auction shapes up epic. Dec 16, Abu Dhabi: Bids fly, squads transform. Who’s your steal? Share below!
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