The auction for IPL 2026 has just wrapped up, leaving behind a trail of surprises, clever steals, and some truly remarkable moves. After hours of intense bidding, dramatic turnarounds, and sharp last-minute picks, the auction has officially come to an end, setting the stage for what promises to be another thrilling season. Yet amid all the excitement, one aspect always stands out, and that is the list of unsold players.
While some cricketers walked away with massive contracts, others went unsold even after both the main and accelerated rounds. It is not a reflection of their talent or ability. Often, the roles they specialise in are already filled by other players in a franchise’s setup. Another key reason is the simple reality of limited squad slots, which means not everyone can be picked no matter how skilled they are. The auction, in the end, is as much about team requirements and balance as it is about individual performances.
Who Went Unsold in the IPL Auction 2026?
The IPL 2026 auction delivered plenty of surprises, but one of the most striking was the long list of unsold players. It was not just uncapped or domestic names missing out. Several major international stars, such as New Zealand opener Devon Conway, South African pacer Gerald Coetzee, and Australia’s explosive batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, also went unsold. The reasons vary widely. Some teams had already filled specific roles, while for others the players’ higher base prices made bidding difficult within tight purse conditions.
However, going unsold does not mean their IPL journey is over for the season. The league’s replacement rule allows franchises to sign an unsold player if someone in their squad is injured and ruled out. The only condition is that the replacement must come from the original auction pool, and the new player’s salary cannot exceed that of the injured cricketer.
Complete List of Unsold Players in IPL 2026 (Category-Wise)
Batters Who Went Unsold
1. Swastik Chikara – BP 30L: Chikara, the uncapped Indian player who was picked by RCB last year, was released ahead of thisseason and unfortunately went unsold in the 2026 auction.
2. Manan Vohara – BP 30L: Vohra, an experienced IPL campaigner who has been part of the tournament since 2015, surprisingly went unsold this year.
3. Daniel Lategan – BP 30L:
4. Dheeraj Kumar – BP 30L:
5. Salman Nizar – BP 30L:
6. Aarya Desai – BP 30L:
7. Yash Dhull – BP 30L: Yash Dhull, a promising young Indian domestic player, also went unsold in this year’s auction.
8. Abhinav Manohar – BP 30L: Abhinav Manohar, a seasoned Indian batter who has featured in the IPL since 2022 for SRH and GT, surprisingly remained unsold this time.
9. Abhinav Tejrana – BP 30L:
10. Anmolpreet Singh – BP 30L:
11. Atharva Taide – BP 30L: Atharva Taide, a young Indian T20 specialist who has featured in the IPL for a few seasons, also failed to attract a bid this year.
All-Rounders Who Went Unsold
1. Macneil Noronha – BP 30L:
2. Siddharth Yadav – BP 30L:
3. Ritik Tada – BP 30L:
4. Chama Milind – BP 30L:
5. Mayank Dagar – BP 30L: Dagar, a seasoned Indian domestic all-rounder who played two IPL seasons for SRH, also went unsold this year.
6. Mani Shankar Mura Singh – BP 30L:
7. Karan Lal – BP 30L
8. Uttkarsh Singh – BP 30L
9. Ayush Vartak – BP 30L
10. Nathan Smith – BP 75L
11. Tanay Thyagrajan – BP 30L
12. Daniel Lawrence – BP 2Cr
13. Sean Abbott – BP 2cr: Abbott, a seasoned Australian all-rounder, also surprisingly went unsold this year despite his experience and proven abilities in the shorter formats.
14. Sanvir Singh – BP 30L
15. Kamlesh Magarkoti – BP30L
16. Tanush Kotian – BP 30L
17. Edhen Tom – BP 30L
18. Mahipal Lomror – BP 30L: Mahipal Lomror, who has played in the IPL for more than six years and most recently represented RCB, also went unsold this year.
19. Harshvardhan Hangrekar – BP 30L
20. Vijay Shankar – BP 30L: Vijay Shankar, who was a key member of India’s 2019 World Cup squad, surprisingly went unsold this year.
21. Deepak Hooda – BP 75L: Deepak Hooda, despite his international experience and a decade of IPL appearances, also found no takers in the auction.
22. Wian Mulder – BP 1Cr: Wian Mulder, the South African all-rounder who recently scored a remarkable 347 in Test cricket, was another unexpected omission as he too went unsold this season.
23. Gus Atkinson – BP 2Cr
Bowlers Who Went Unsold
1. Money Garewal – BP 30L
2. Izaz Sawariya – BP 30L
3. Jikku Bright – BP 30L
4. Chintal Gandhi – BP 30L
5. Irfan Umair – BP 30L
6. Jhye Richardson – BP 1.5Cr: Richardson, the Australian pace bowler who has featured in the IPL for a few seasons, was not picked this year.
7. Riley Meredith – BP 1.5Cr:
8. Richard Gleeson – BP 75L:
9. Taskin Ahmed – BP 75L: Taskin Ahmed, Bangladesh’s emerging pace star, was another notable name to miss out, going unsold this season.
10. Mohit Rathee – BP 30L
11. KC Cariappa – BP 30L
12. Murgan Ashwin – BP 30L
13. KM Asif – BP 30L
14. M. Waqar Salamheil – BP 1Cr
15. Chetan Sakariya – BP 75L: Chetan Sakariya, the breakout star of IPL 2021 who went on to play four seasons with Rajasthan Royals and KKR, surprisingly went unsold this year.
16. Kumar Kartikeya Singh – 30L
17. Karn Sharma – BP 50L: Karn Sharma, a seasoned Indian leg-spinner with more than 14 years in the IPL and trophies with Mumbai Indians, SRH, CSK and KKR, also remained unsold.
18. Shivam Shukla – BP 30L
19. Wadiullah Zadran – BP 30L
20. Akash Madhwal – BP 30L: Akash Madhwal, one of Mumbai Indians’ notable finds in recent seasons, went unsold as well despite his impressive performances in previous editions.
21. Simarjeet Singh – BP 30L
22. Raj Limbani – BP 30L
23. Fazalaq Farooqui – BP 1Cr: Fazalhaq Farooqi, one of Afghanistan’s biggest match winners in recent times, also found no takers at the auction.
24. Maheesha Teekshana – BP 2Cr: Maheesh Theekshana, Sri Lanka’s skillful mystery spinner known for his control and variations, was another unexpected name to go unsold this season.
25. Spencer Johnson – BP 1.5 Cr
Wicketkeeper Who Went Unsold
1. Connor Esterhuizen – BP 30L
2. Ruchit Ahir – BP30L
3. Jamie Smith – BP 2Cr: Jamie Smith, the young English wicketkeeper-batter, went unsold this year despite his growing reputation in T20 cricket.
4. KS Bharat – BP 75 L: KS Bharat, the Indian wicketkeeper who once featured in the World Test Championship final, also went unsold in this year’s auction.
Top 10 Most Surprising Unsold Players in IPL Auction 2026
1. Devin Conway – BP 2Cr: Devon Conway, New Zealand’s reliable opener, was one of the most surprising omissions. Despite his strong international record and consistent performances, he remained unsold.
2. Jake Fraser-McGurk – BP 2Cr: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Australia’s explosive T20 batter who showcased his talent brilliantly in the last two IPL seasons, was another major shock as he, too, went unsold despite his standout performances.
3. Daryl Mitchell – BP 2Cr: Daryl Mitchell, an experienced New Zealand all-rounder, was one of the most unexpected names to go unsold this year. Despite his international pedigree and strong reputation, he could not secure an IPL contract this season.
4. Michael Bracewell – BP 2Cr: Michael Bracewell, another established New Zealand all-rounder and a regular member of the national side, also went unsold in a surprising outcome.
5. Dasun Shanaka – BP 2Cr: Dasun Shanaka’s absence from the buyers’ list was equally striking. The former Sri Lankan captain, who once led his team to an Asia Cup title in the T20 format, found no takers despite his proven leadership and finishing abilities.
6. Alzari Joseph – BP 2Cr: Alzari Joseph, the West Indian quick who previously turned out for Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans, also went unsold in a surprising outcome.
7. Gerald Coetzee – BP 2Cr: Gerald Coetzee, South Africa’s premium fast bowler and a rising force in world cricket, surprisingly did not attract a single bid.
8. Jonny Bairstow – BP 1Cr: Jonny Bairstow, one of England’s most explosive wicketkeeper-batters with more than 15 years of international experience, was another surprising omission as he too remained unsold.
9. Rahmanulla Gurubaaz – BP 1.5 Cr: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is currently among the top ten in the ICC T20 batting rankings, was another surprising name to go unsold this year.
10. Mujeeb Rahman – BP 2Cr: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, the Afghan spin sensation who famously bowled Virat Kohli on debut, went unsold this year.
Why Do Players Go Unsold in IPL Auctions?
There are many reasons why players go unsold in the IPL auction.
• Players with a long history of injuries or a reputation for being injury-prone often make franchises cautious, which can lead to them going unsold even if they are highly skilled.
• Limited availability, especially among overseas players who can join the tournament only for a short period, pushes teams to choose cricketers who can play the entire season.
• Sometimes the role a player fits into is already filled within a franchise, leaving no need for an additional option in that category, which results in the player remaining unsold.
• The strict squad limit is another major reason. Each team can have a maximum of twenty-five players, and once those slots are close to being filled, many deserving names are left out simply due to lack of space.
Can Unsold Players Still Play in IPL 2026?
If a player remains unsold, he can still take part in the IPL mid-season as an injury replacement. Any replacement signing must come from the original auction pool, giving unsold players a valuable second chance to join the league.