Best playing 11 of players sold at IPL 2026 Auction ft. Cameron Green, Venkatesh Iyer 

The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction came to a close in Abu Dhabi, on Tuesday, December 16, and while it followed the pattern of a typical bidding event, there were a string of surprises on show throughout. Proven overseas players being unsold initially, uncapped players bagging massive contracts, and a blockbuster accelerated round were just the few highlights of the event that will certainly be dissected in the days and even months to come.

KKR and CSK had come into the event with the biggest purses, and it was no surprise that they were calling the shots from the word-go, and ended up being responsible for most of the high-profile and massive signings. The immense demand and the lack of options available meant that the teams had to fight harder and go overboard to land the player of their choice.

A total of 369 cricketers were up for grabs at the IPL 2026 Auction with the franchises having a total of 77 slots to fill as per their quota of maximum 25 players in the squad. At the end of the event, all teams finished with 25 players each ahead of the new season.

On that note, let us take a look at the best playing 11 of players sold at IPL 2026 Auction.

Openers: Quinton de Kock (WK), Prithvi Shaw

Wicket-keeping was not a department that was flooded with proven players in the IPL 2026 Auction, but Quinton de Kock stood out in the pack. Although he had a poor campaign in 2025, a lot has changed since then, with his international comeback being a major factor. He fetched a bid from his former franchise, the Mumbai Indians (MI), and he is set to reunite with his former partner in crime, Rohit Sharma.

Prithvi Shaw did everything right to earn a second chance, and he has been rewarded for his efforts as well. Delhi Capitals (DC) chose to bring him back into their setup after he went unsold during the previous auction. His recent numbers for Maharashtra across formats have been nothing short of stellar, and he emerges as the standout Indian opening batter in the 2026 Auction.

Middle Order: Cameron Green, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, David Miller (C)

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green was the major attraction ahead of the auction, and all the hype exploded in the early stages itself as KKR launched a record bid of INR 25.20 crore to acquire his services. He comes across as a massive boost to any playing XI, considering the balance and depth he provides with both his batting and bowling.

Venkatesh Iyer is set for a fresh start as he lands with the defending champions, albeit for a reduced price tag. Although his last season did not go as planned, he is still a versatile candidate who can operate in any batting position in the order. On top of that, his explosive match-winning ability makes him a valuable addition to the setup.

The mini-auction saw an overwhelming lack of proven Indian middle-order batters, as majority of the franchies took a chance with uncapped candidates. While those players come in with potential, they do not have credibility as of yet. In such a situation, veteran batter Rahul Tripathi emerges as a player who can fit in any batting unit with his ability to make an impact and versatility.

Released after a poor campaign with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Tripathi made a massive statement with his performances for Maharashtra in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. As a result, he fetched a bid of INR 75 Lakh by another one of his former franchises, KKR.

The finishing department was another area where there was a serious dearth of options in the auction pool. Which is why, it was a massive surprise that the Delhi Capitals (DC) got away with the signing of an accomplished finisher like David Miller for just his base price right at the start of the auction.

Lower Order: Auqib Nabi, Matheesha Pathirana, Rahul Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep

Pacers were in massive demand throughout the auction, both Indian and Overseas options. Matheesha Pathirana was a standout as he bagged a massive price tag of INR 18 crore to be KKR's new pace spearhead. As far as Indian names are concerned, there were not many huge names, but both Auqib Dar and Akash Deep were rewarded for their impressive displays in the domestic circuit.

The former provides a bit of a punch in terms of batting depth with his all-round ability, while the latter could prove to be a massive bargain as he has the chance to bowl on his home ground, the Eden Gardens in the next season.

The wrist-spinner pair of Ravi Bishnoi and Rahul Chahar were primed to be the biggest attractions in the spin bowling department, and it panned out precisely as expected. The duo found new franchises as they were sold for a combined INR 12.40 crore, and prove to be vital cogs for their respective franchises.

Edited by Gokul Nair