Top 5 uncapped Indian batters to watch out for in IPL 2026 Auction ft. Kunal Chandela

The IPL 2026 auction is almost upon us, with the exciting one-day bidding war set to take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. As the ten franchises look to fill the holes in their rosters and build a solid squad for the IPL 2026 season, most eyes will be on the marquee Indian and overseas players.

Yet, the last few IPL seasons have shown the importance of uncapped Indian cricketers and how they ultimately make the difference between a good and a great side. The Punjab Kings (PBKS) turned heads last season by fielding a host of uncapped Indian players and finishing runners-up.

As a result, the franchises will keep a close eye on the ongoing 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) to identify a few high-performing uncapped players.

In this listicle, we focus on the batters and highlight the top five uncapped Indian batters to watch in the IPL 2026 auction.

#1 Kunal Chandela

Uttarakhand skipper Kunal Chandela is setting the stage on fire with the bat in the ongoing 2025-26 SMAT competition. The 31-year-old is currently the leading run-scorer in the tournament with 350 runs at an average of 50 and a strike rate of over 150 in seven matches.

An Indian batter at No. 3 has worked wonders for IPL teams in the past, and Chandela could be the ideal fit for several franchises. The right-hander has a base price of ₹30 Lakhs, but it wouldn't be a surprise if teams go all-out by leaving much more on the table to land the in-form batter.

He has also been a model of consistency in an otherwise on-and-off batting lineup in the 2025-26 SMAT, with four half-centuries in seven innings.

While Uttarakhand has struggled with only two wins in seven matches, Chandela may have already hit the IPL 2026 auction jackpot with his batting magic.

#2 Anmolpreet Singh

Punjab batter Anmolpreet Singh is no stranger to the IPL, having been part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) setup. However, the 27-year-old has played only nine IPL games with mediocre numbers, averaging under 16 and a strike rate of under 121.

Nonetheless, Anmolpreet is seemingly nearing the prime of his career with the willow, evidenced by his showing in the ongoing SMAT. The right-hander has owned the No. 3 position for Punjab, scoring 241 runs at an average of almost 34 and a strike rate of 172.14 in seven matches.

The 172.14 strike rate is a massive surge from his overall career T20 strike rate of 137.30. Anmolpreet has helped Punjab top the Group C standings with five wins in seven matches.

Given their success last season, it would surprise no one if PBKS becomes Anmolpreet's third IPL franchise in the 2026 auction.

#3 Ankit Kumar

Haryana captain Ankit Kumar has enhanced his stock and reputation as a bankable opener in the ongoing SMAT competition. Despite having the onus of leading the side, the 28-year-old has compartmentalized between captaincy and batting to perfection.

Ankit has scored 242 runs in the tournament at an average of over 40 and a strike rate of 162.41 in seven matches. His exploits helped Haryana finish second in Group C and advance to the Super League.

#4 Manan Vohra

The stylish Manan Vohra continues to plunder runs in the domestic circuit, with the latest being his performances in the 2025-26 SMAT. Playing for Chandigarh, the 32-year-old boasts incredible numbers, scoring 278 runs at an average of 46.33 and a strike rate of 135.60 in seven games.

Vohra is obviously an experienced IPL cricketer, having played for four franchises since his debut in 2013. Yet, even after 56 games, his overall numbers remain underwhelming for someone of his calibre, thanks to an alarming dip in the last few seasons.

Yet, with his remarkable consistency in the ongoing SMAT season, Vohra remains a hot property among uncapped Indian batters in the upcoming 2026 auction.

#5 Bhanu Pania

Amid the numerous top-order batters, Baroda right-hander Bhanu Pania's lower-order ball-striking ability could garner several bids in the IPL 2026 auction. Batting mostly at No. 6 and 7, the 29-year-old has displayed the incredible skill to go big in the end overs.

Pania has been dismissed only once in the ongoing SMAT tournament, averaging 112 at a strike rate of over 180 in seven matches. Despite barely missing out on qualifying for the next stage, Baroda won four out of their seven games, thanks to Pania's lower-order impetus.

Given the rarity of players performing the role, the Baroda batter could be a left-field choice among a few franchises in the 2026 auction.