Quinton de KockThe explosive South African WicketKeeper-inclined has established himself as a dominant force Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years. Known for his aggressive, free-flowing strokeplay at the top of the order and reliable gloveman, he offers a rare combination of skills much sought after by franchises.
He played for more than one team, including De Kock Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals), Royal Paintings Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians (where he won back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020) and Lucknow Super Giantsbefore his most recent stint Kolkata Knight Riders. In 115 IPL matches, he averages 30.64 and has a strong strike rate, including two hundreds and 24 half-centuries of 33309 in 33309 years.
Of the recently released 350 players, who will go under the hammer in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, De Kock has been included in the INR 1 crore base price category, making them a top-order and an attractive and potentially valuable buy to strengthen the wicketkeeping department. On that note, let’s take a look at some of the teams that could target the Heateas star in the upcoming auction.
5 franchises that could go for Quinton de Kock in IPL 2026 auction
1) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Bag left: ₹ 64.3 cr
- Remaining slots: 13 (6 Abroad)
KKR are in a commanding position with the biggest remaining bag and the most slots to fill. There is an urgent need for a quality Wicketeeper-key, a role he fits perfectly. Interestingly, KKR recently took it ahead of the catch submission deadline. A pattern often seen in IPL auctions is that they buy released players again for less and considering the base price of ₹ 1 crore, KKR may try to re-acquire the South African star to address a critical squad requirement.
2) Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Bag left: ₹ 21.8 cr
- Remaining slots: 8 (5 foreign)
After being released FAF du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurkDC needs an aggressive opening partner Kl rahul may prefer the use of force. De Kock’s natural attacking play makes him an ideal candidate to ensure a fast start for DC, who have had quiet starts in their recent campaigns. Additionally, De Kock has a history with the franchise, having played for Delhi Daredevils from 2014-2016, giving it a sense of familiarity. Their healthy bag of ₹ 21.8 CR also provides financial comfort for him to offer strongly.
3) Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Bag left: ₹ 16.05 CR
- Remaining slots: 9 (1 foreign)
With a limited auction purse and only one overseas slot remaining, Rajasthan Royals will be extremely keen to secure valuable buys to rebuild their squad after the departure of similar players. Sanju Samson (Sold to CSK). De Kock, at a base price of A ₹ 1 Crore, presents an opportunity to effectively fill the very foreign wicketkeeper-batsman slot. A slightly depleted RR with experience and ability to pace the pace or shots would be invaluable for the top order.
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4) Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Bag left: ₹ 11.5 cr
- Remaining slots: 4 (2 foreign)
With a stable core of players on offer but a limited budget, the Punjab Kings should focus on getting a quality Wicketeeper-cadaver. After being released Josh English (Due to availability issues), pbks needs an explosive Wicketeeper who can open the batting or provide top order relief. De Kock’s hard-hitting reputation as a key makes him fit this exact role for pbks, allowing them to maximize their two-overall slot.
5) Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Bag left: ₹ 25.5 cr
- Remaining slots: 10 (2 foreign)
SRH already boast of a strong opening pair Head of Travis and Abhishek SharmaThey can deploy de Kock as a reliable No. 3, to stabilize the middle order or as a back-up WicketKeeper option Heinrich Klaasen. De Kock has previously shown his versatility to bat outside the opening slot. Given their decent remaining purse strings, SRH have the financial wherewithal to add depth and experience trains in case title aspirations or Klaasen both suffer an injury or dip.
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