3 players with ₹75 lakh base price who might get picked at IPL 2026 auction

The IPL 2026 auction is all set to take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. The BCCI had initially released a list of 350 players, who were shortlisted to go under the hammer in Abu Dhabi. However, according to a report in ESPNcricinfo, the final list features 359 players.

Of the 350-plus players who have been picked for the IPL 2026 auction, 244 are Indian cricketers, while 115 are overseas cricketers. From the final list, 40 players have registered for the auction at the maximum base price of ₹2 crore. The price bracket includes only two Indian players - Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.

More than 40 players have also listed themselves in the base price category of ₹75 lakh. With only 77 slots up of grabs, including 31 for overseas players, IPL franchises have a tricky task of picking and choosing players. In this feature, we predict three players with ₹75 lakh base who might get picked at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi.

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#1 Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan has an exceptional record in first-class cricket. In 60 matches, he has scored 4,863 runs at an average of 63.15 and a strike rate of 70.10, with 16 hundreds and as many half-centuries. However, his numbers in T20 cricket are not as prolific. In 102 games, he has scored 1,444 runs at an average of 25.33 and a strike rate of 135.45, with one hundred and five half-centuries.

Sarfaraz made his debut in the IPL back in 2015. However, he has only played 50 matches in the T20 league in which he has scored 585 runs at an average of 22.50 and a strike rate of 130.58, with just a solitary half-century to his name. It would be fair to say that the Mumbai batter has failed to grab his opportunities.

Sarfaraz, though, has displayed dazzling form in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In six innings, he has slammed 256 runs at an average of 64 and a strike rate of 182.85, with one ton and two fifties. He hit 100* off 47 balls against Assam and recently clobbered 64 off 25 against Haryana. IPL franchises would definitely have taken notice of his batting exploits.

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#2 Pathum Nissanka

Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka is not someone who is highly renowned for big-hitting skills. If we look at his numbers for Lanka in T20I cricket, he has played 79 matches in which he has scored 2,345 runs at an average of 31.68 and a strike rate of 126.96, with one ton and 18 fifties. In his overall T20 career, the 27-year-old has a strike rate of 131.35 from 153 matches.

Nissanka, however, has been in stunning form in the ongoing International League T20 (ILT20), which is being played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In fact, he is currently the leading run-getter in this year's edition. In four innings, the right-handed has slammed 223 runs at an average of 55.75 and a strike rate of 195.61, with the aid of three half-centuries.

Representing Gulf Giants, he clobbered 81 off 42 against MI Emirates, hitting six fours and four sixes. Nissanka followed it up with 67 off 31 against Dubai Capitals (DC) and 56 off 29 against Desert Vipers. Looking at his blazing form, IPL franchises might be tempted to pick him at the mini-auction.

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#3 Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda has been one of the biggest enigmas of the IPL. Having made his debut in the 2015 season, the aggressive right-handed batter has played 125 matches in which he has scored 1,496 runs at a poor average of 17.60 and an underwhelming strike rate of 127.64, with just eight half-centuries.

Hooda impressed with 451 runs from 14 innings for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 2022 edition at a strike rate of 136.66. However, that can be considered more of an aberration in his IPL career. Last season, he only managed 31 runs in five innings for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Before that, he totaled 84 runs in 12 innings for LSG in 2023.

While Hooda has clearly underperformed in the IPL, he keeps enticing franchises to pick him with some dazzling performances. On expected lines, he has been inconsistent in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, he also slammed 76* off 36 for Rajasthan against Tamil Nadu and 90* off 50 against Uttarakhand. The 30-year-old might have just done enough to earn himself another IPL contract.