Ranking the three best performing teams at IPL 2026 auction ft. DC

A total of 77 players, including 29 overseas cricketers, were sold at the IPL 2026 auction, with franchises spending a combined ₹215.45 crore. The auction was held on Tuesday, December 16, in Abu Dhabi. Australia all-rounder Cameron Green emerged as the costliest signing, as three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) acquired him for ₹25.20 crore.

Uncapped Indian players also stole the spotlight. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for ₹14.20 crore each. Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi was picked up by Delhi Capitals (DC) for a hefty ₹8.40 crore.

While some franchises struggled to adapt to the auction dynamics, others executed their plans to perfection with a series of smart buys. On that note, let’s take a look at the three best-performing teams at the IPL 2026 auction.

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#1 Delhi Capitals (DC)

Delhi Capitals entered the auction with a purse of ₹21.8 crore and eight slots to fill. Having done their homework thoroughly, the franchise made a series of smart and calculated signings.

After struggling with their top-order combination in the 2025 IPL season, DC moved on from Jake Fraser-McGurk and Faf du Plessis, addressing the issue by bringing in overseas openers Ben Duckett (₹2 crore) and Pathum Nissanka (₹4 crore). They also purchased their former player Prithvi Shaw for ₹75 lakh, adding an Indian option at the top.

In addition, DC pulled off a bargain by acquiring veteran batter David Miller at his base price of ₹2 crore, strengthening the middle order alongside fellow South African Tristan Stubbs. In the bowling department, the Capitals already had overseas pace options in Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera, and further reinforced their attack by signing backups Lungi Ngidi (₹2 crore) and Kyle Jamieson (₹2 crore).

The franchise also made a significant investment in uncapped Jammu & Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi, securing him for ₹8.40 crore, to complete their Indian pace unit alongside Mukesh Kumar and T. Natarajan. Overall, Delhi Capitals executed a well-planned auction strategy and emerged as one of the best-performing teams at the IPL 2026 auction.

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#2 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) entered the IPL 2026 auction with the largest purse of ₹64.3 crore and 13 slots to fill. One of their most significant signings was Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, whom they secured for ₹25.20 crore. While the price tag was hefty, the move made sense as KKR looked to replace their former match-winner Andre Russell, who is now part of the franchise’s coaching setup.

Addressing a major gap in their squad, KKR strengthened their pace attack by signing Sri Lanka speedster Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore, while also securing experienced seamer Mustafizur Rahman for ₹9.20 crore as cover. These additions complemented their Indian pace unit of Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Umran Malik, underlining the franchise’s clear and well-defined auction strategy.

After overseas wicketkeeper-batters Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz were released following a disappointing 2025 season, KKR refreshed their options by bringing in the New Zealand duo of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen. They further bolstered their overseas contingent by adding versatile all-rounder Rachin Ravindra.

In addition, KKR strengthened their squad with the inclusion of Indian internationals Rahul Tripathi and Akash Deep, along with uncapped talents Kartik Tyagi and Tejasvi Singh. Overall, the Knight Riders executed a well-planned auction, clearly identifying their targets and assembling a squad capable of challenging for their fourth IPL title.

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#3 Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

The final team on the list is defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). While RCB didn’t have much work to do at the IPL 2026 auction, they made efficient use of their ₹16.4 crore purse.

One of their key acquisitions was Venkatesh Iyer, whom they signed for ₹7 crore after missing out on him at the 2025 auction. Iyer adds valuable versatility to RCB’s middle order, which already features Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David, and Krunal Pandya.

With Josh Hazlewood struggling with injuries in recent times and ruled out of the ongoing Ashes, RCB moved quickly to strengthen their pace attack by signing overseas seamer Jacob Duffy for ₹2 crore. The New Zealander is currently ranked second on the ICC T20I bowling rankings, adding quality and depth to the bowling unit.

RCB also brought in England wicketkeeper-batter Jordan Cox, along with uncapped Indian pacer Mangesh Yadav, who could serve as a backup option should Yash Dayal remain unavailable. Additionally, the franchise invested in the future by signing India Under-19 cricketer Vihaan Malhotra, further strengthening their long-term core.

Overall, Royal Challengers Bengaluru did a commendable job of securing solid backups for their star players. With smart, targeted buys and minimal overbidding, RCB approached the auction with clarity as they aim to defend their IPL title.