IPL Mini Auction Finalised: Seven Bangladesh Stars Included

Excitement is mounting for the IPL 2026 mini auction, which will take place on 16 December in Abu Dhabi. The IPL has finalised a list of 350 players from an initial pool of 1,390 registrations. Seven Bangladeshi cricketers—Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanzim Hasan, Rakibul Hasan, and Shariful Islam—have been confirmed for the auction.

The absence of Shakib Al Hasan has been the biggest talking point. Initially included in the preliminary list, the veteran all-rounder has not made the final cut, raising questions about franchise strategies and budget allocations. Shakib’s exclusion is a surprise given his international experience and T20 credentials.

Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman leads the pack with a base price of 20 million INR, highlighting his reputation as one of the top pacers in world cricket. Other Bangladesh players, including Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan, Nahid Rana, and Shariful Islam, are priced at 7.5 million INR, while spinner Rakibul Hasan is at 3 million INR. Rakibul’s inclusion is notable given his consistent performances at the domestic and Emerging levels, despite not yet breaking into the senior national team. He has taken 69 wickets in 69 T20 matches with a best of 3/7 and an economy of 6.90.

The auction will feature 35 additional players requested by franchises, including South African stars Quinton de Kock and George Linde, and Sri Lankan Dhananjaya de Silva. Out of 350 players, 240 are Indian and 110 are foreign. Seventy-seven slots are available, 32 of which are for overseas players. Kolkata Knight Riders have the largest budget at 643 million INR to fill 13 slots, including six foreign players.

Top base-price players include two Indians at 20 million INR, nine at 15 million, four at 12.5 million, 17 at 10 million, 42 at 7.5 million, four at 5 million, seven at 4 million, and 227 at 3 million INR. Analysts predict that Australian all-rounder Cameron Green could command the highest bid as he is registered as a batsman in the auction.

Of the 240 Indian players, 224 are uncapped, along with 14 overseas players. Uncapped players are those who have never played for their national teams, last played international cricket over five years ago, or were absent from central contracts.

As the IPL 2026 mini auction approaches, attention will focus on both emerging talents and established stars, with Bangladeshi cricketers Mustafizur Rahman and Rakibul Hasan expected to generate considerable interest from franchises. The event promises surprises, high-stakes bidding, and a fresh wave of talent ready to shine on the IPL stage.