From Top Stars Abroad to Indian Match-winners, ₹ 2 Crore Base-Price Advantage IPL 2026 Auction collected by big names started by Cameron green, Venkatesh Iyer, Steve Smith and Wanindu Hasaranga.
A total of 45 players have entered the auction at this maximum reserve price, with just 77 slots available – among 31 foreign franchises – how competitive the Abu Dhabi event will be on December 16.
Franchises re-strategize just two Indians
Due to the foreign-heavy nature of the bracket, only two Indian players – Legspinners Ravi Bishnoi and ALLWONDER VENKATSH – listed themselves in the ₹ 2 Crore category. Both were high-value assets in earlier eras: Bishnoi, retained by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹11 crore last season, used an RTM card to secure Venkatsh in the last mega-auction before KKR’s lean 2025 campaign. The higher base price reflects their presence in their specialization skills – Bishnoi’s confidence as a middle-order Wicket-Taker and Venkatsh as a left-handed order option with a seam-bowling program.
The long list also throws some interesting subsections and existence around and around. Glenn MaxwellA total of 1,355 players are not on the long list, released by the Punjab Kings after a poor 2025 season and fitness concerns Moeen ali Pakistan Super League preferred over IPL 2026, demand for names like Green, Hasaranga and more changing from abroad Daryl Mitchell.
Josh EnglishThe Punjab Kings’ run to the 2025 finals, which entered the auction, but due to individual reasons, the caps making up only 25% of the 2026 season, the flat will have to factor this window into their bidding strategies.
Big money bracket led by global stars
The long list for the IPL 2026 mini-auction features 1,355 registered players, but the spotlight rests firmly on the elite group of 45 cricketers who fetched the highest base price of ₹ 2 crore. Among the foreign names, Australia’s Green, Smith and Inglis all signal they are ready for fresh iPl opportunities at the highest starting price.
Green, who skipped the 2025 mega-auction due to a back injury and is widely seen as the marquee acquisition of this auction after placing well with the Chennai super kings. KKR, in particular, are expected to chase a similar successor Andre Russell Green’s pace-bowling, middle-order batting and elite form a near-perfect tactical match after watching the Caribbean player’s IPL breakthrough.
With franchises required to submit their shortlists by December 5, the initial 45-man-₹2 crore group is a clear indication that every retained name in this bracket is a clear indication that the player teams are seen as potential game changers for IPL 2026.
Read: Cameron Green in, Glenn Maxwell Out: 1,355 players register for IPL 2026 auction
IPL 2026 Auction: List of cricketers with a base price of ₹ 2 crore
- India: Ravi bishnoi, venkatesh iyer
- Afghanistan: Mujeeb ur rahman, naveen ul haq
- Australia: Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Ben Cut, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith
- Bangladesh: Mustafizur Rahman
- England: Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Daniel Lawrence, Liam Livingstone, Tymal Mills, Jamie Smith
- New Zealand: Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryl Mitchell, William O’Rourke, Rachin Ravindra
- South Africa: Gerald Coetzee, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Rilee Rossouw, Tabriiz Shamsi, David Wiese
- Sri Lanka: Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesha Teekshana West Indies: Jason Holder, Shai Umid, Akeal Hosein and Alzarri Yusif
Read: ‘If not KKR…’
