Ahead of the upcoming auction of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026 Auction), an all-rounder from Australia expresses his desire to play for Punjab Kings (PBKS). In an interview, the all-rounder directly said that he wishes to play for PBKS, the runner-up of the previous IPL season, IPL 2025.

Punjab Kings had a promising campaign in the last season. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, they reached the final of the league. There, they lost agains Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and concluded the season as the second best team. In IPL 2026, there will be high hopes around the franchise.

Nikhil Chaudhary, Delhi-born and now an Australian cricketer, has the desire to play for PBKS. The 29-year-old is known for his spin bowling and hard-hitting abilities as a lower-end batter. Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, there are some videos of Chaudhary that have been surfacing on social media platforms, depicting his skills as a limited-over cricketer.

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Australian all-rounder wishes to play of Punjab Kings in IPL

Australian Cricketer Nikhil Chaudhary wants to play for Punjab Kings in IPL.🚨

pic.twitter.com/PVIDbw9Bx9

— JATT TORONTO ALA (@GoraJatt_) December 10, 2025

The allrounder has been in great form in Australian domestic cricket. For Tasmania, Nikhil scored 163 runs during a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales and was named the best player of the game. Before that, against Victoria, he registered 38 & 25 runs in the first and second innings, respectively. On December 5, during the Tasmania vs South Australia match, Chaudhary got 42 runs in the second innings.

The Delhi-born has a strong connection with Punjab, as they played for the state. In the Punjabi language, he said, "Hopefully, in the future, I'll play for Punjab in the IPL."

For the first time in five years, the brand value of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has fallen by 20%, touching $9.6 billion for the 2025 season, compared with $12 billion in 2024, according to the latest reports from brand valuation and consultancy firm as per the latest reports claim. It’s also the first time that the brand value has slipped below the $10-billion mark.

The brand firm attributes the decline to various factors. The uncertainty has been reflected in the values of four franchises- the Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. This fell by 9-33% in 2025. Last year, these teams crossed $100 million mark in brand value.

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The T20 league had crossed the mark of $10-millon in 2023 and stayed above the level for the entire 2024 as the reports claimed that the IPL had achieved a strong online broadcasting record with 384.6 billion minutes of watch time in the 2025 season, which has underscored its accessibility and the engagement with Mumbai being the most valuable team with a brand value of $108 million.

Know most valuable IPL franchise in terms of brand value ahead of IPL 2026

Chennai Super Kings come at the third position with a brand value of $93 million, while the Bengaluru side, the current defending champions of the IPL 2026, has been sandwiched with a brand value of $105 million. The lowest price is $53 million for the inaugural champions, the Rajasthan Royals.

It has documented the significant growth of the top five IPL teams, including the Kolkata Knight Riders, for a brand value of $73 million, along with the Gujarat Titans for a value of $70 million. “The league has navigated regional conflicts and demonstrated a promising evolution in value creation, reflecting strong engagement on and off the field.” The managing director of the brand finance addressed.

Most Valuable IPL teams on brand value after IPL 2025

Phil Salt has shared his first reaction after being picked by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the IPL 2025 auction. He said he felt at once that he was a good fit for the team. Speaking on the RCB Podcast, Salt said the team’s style and clear communication helped him settle in easily.

“My first thought was that this is a team I would enjoy playing for. The way RCB have always played their cricket really suited me. From my first talk with Mo (Bobat) after the auction, I clearly understood why they picked me and what role they wanted me to play. Everything matched my style of play,” Salt said.

RCB bought Phil Salt for Rs 11.50 crore at the auction, and the move proved to be a great one. The England wicketkeeper-batter scored 403 runs in 13 matches for RCB, including four half-centuries. His steady starts at the top of the order played a big role in RCB’s title-winning season.

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Notably, RCB ended their 18-year wait for an IPL title by beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final earlier this year.

Phil Salt’s Remarkable IPL Journey

Phil Salt was part of Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) title-winning season in 2024, where he scored 435 runs in 12 matches. A year later, he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) win their first-ever IPL title. With this, he became one of the few players to win IPL titles in back-to-back seasons with two different teams.

Salt has also been retained by RCB ahead of the IPL auction, which will take place on December 16.

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RCB Retained and Released Players

Retained Players:

Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Krunal Pandya, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Devdutt Padikkal, Nuwan Thushara, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Suyash Sharma, Swapnil Singh, Yash Dayal, Abhinandan Singh, Rasikh Dar.

Released Players:

Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Tim Seifert, Liam Livingstone, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, Mohit Rathee.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction will feature 350 players as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) arrived at the number after several discussions with the ten franchises. The auction will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16 at 2:30 IST in the afternoon. The board had circulated an initial list of 1355 players before adding 35 names that were not part of it at the start. 

The BCCI has stated that the player auction will commence with a full round of capped players in the following order: Batters, all-rounders, wicket-keeper/batters, fast bowlers, and spin bowlers, followed by a full round of uncapped players.

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The talk of the town, premier all-rounder of Australia, Cameron Green, is expected to be in high demand and quite surprisingly slotted in the first list of the batters along with Devon Conway, Prithvi Shaw, Jake Fraser-McGhie, Sarfaraz Khan, and David Miller. Another vital player, Venkatesh Iyer, has been put in the first round of the all-rounders’ category.

IPL 2026 auction date, time, and registered players 

The 10 IPL franchises have a collective purse of INR 237.55 crore for the auction, with the Kolkata Knight Riders being the richest of all with a purse of INR 64.30 crore. The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) remain at the second position with INR 43.40 crore being available as there are 77 slots to fill, including 31 overseas positions.

“For your planning purposes, please note, subject to timings, it is envisaged that the accelerated process will start after player No. 70. The first accelerated process will cover all the players from 71-350. Once these players have been presented, franchises will be requested to submit the names of the players (unpresented and unsold) from all those on the full list of 350 for further accelerated presentation, " an official from BCCI stated. 

As of now, some notable players like Glenn Maxwell and Andre Russell have announced their retirements from the IPL, while Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali have decided to put the curtains down to move towards the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the 2026 edition.

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin explained Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) plan for the IPL 2026 mini-auction. He said the team wants to rebuild after a tough last season. With a purse of INR 43.40 crore, CSK is ready to pick players they really need, especially after overseas stars like Glenn Maxwell pulled out.

Ashwin said CSK’s first target will be an Indian all-rounder, most likely Venkatesh Iyer. After that, they will look for an overseas all-rounder, with Liam Livingstone being one of their main choices.

CSK to Target Venkatesh Iyer and Key All-Rounders in IPL 2026 mini Auction

Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “CSK’s first choice will be Venkatesh Iyer. They may have planned for Maxwell for the other spot, but since he is not available, they will now look at Livingstone.”

Venkatesh Iyer had a poor IPL 2025 season for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), even though the team bought him for a huge amount of INR 23.75 crore in the last mega-auction. For the upcoming auction, he has entered with the highest base price of INR 2 crore. Liam Livingstone, who was released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has found his form again in the International League T20 2025, which makes him a popular overseas pick.

The IPL 2026 mini-auction will be held in Abu Dhabi and is expected to bring intense bidding because the talent pool is limited but full of high-value players. More than 1,300 cricketers have registered for the mini-auction, making it one of the biggest pools in recent years. The auction will take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.

However, this is not the final list. Franchises will now study the names and prepare a shorter list by early December. Only the shortlisted players will go under the hammer during the auction.

Rajasthan Royals have retained 16 players, including 7 overseas stars, ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The team will enter the auction with a purse of ₹16.05 crore. The Jaipur-based franchise is expected to look for an overseas fast bowler as a backup for Jofra Archer, a strong finisher, and an extra spin bowler.

Here is a look at five possible targets for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2026 auction.

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1. Matheesha Pathirana

Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana will be available in the auction, and RR may try to sign him to fix their death-overs bowling issues. Pathirana has played 32 IPL matches for CSK and has taken 47 wickets.

2. Aquib Nabi

Jammu and Kashmir’s Aquib Nabi has impressed with his bowling in domestic cricket, and he will be on RR’s radar. Nabi has not made his IPL debut yet, but he has taken 40 wickets in 33 T20 matches so far.

3. Rachin Ravindra

As a replacement for Sanju Samson, RR may look to sign Rachin Ravindra. The Kiwi all-rounder can open the innings or bat at No. 3 as well. Rachin has played 18 IPL matches for CSK and has scored 413 runs.

4. Shai Hope

Rajasthan Royals need experience in the middle order, and West Indies captain Shai Hope can be a perfect choice for them. The West Indies ODI and T20I captain has played nine IPL matches for DC and has scored 183 runs with a strike rate of 150.

5. Cooper Connolly

Even though Rajasthan have traded Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, they can still target Australian spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly for the finisher role. Connolly has played 35 T20 matches so far, taken 13 wickets, and scored 646 runs.

The buildup to the IPL 2026 Mini Auction has intensified, and one storyline has captured the attention of fans and scouts alike: the confirmed absence of three prominent England cricketers. Their exclusion is not due to form, injury, or lack of franchise interest; instead, it stems directly from the strict auction regulations enforced by the BCCI. As teams prepare to engage in another high-stakes bidding war, these absences are already reshaping auction-room strategies.

Ben Stokes: A Decision That Echoes Forward

Ben Stokes' pathway into the IPL 2026 auction was shut the moment he chose not to register for the IPL 2025 mega auction. Under BCCI rules, a player who skips the mega auction cannot re-enter during the following mini auction cycle. Stokes made his decision during a period focused on workload management and Test commitments, and that choice now legally bars him from the 2026 mini auction.

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Harry Brook: Late Withdrawal Leads to Automatic Block

Harry Brook’s case differs but ultimately leads to the same outcome. After withdrawing from IPL 2025 shortly before the season for personal reasons, he was deemed unavailable for the remainder of the cycle. According to BCCI regulations, a player who pulls out after commitment triggers an automatic ineligibility for the next mini auction. Brook, once expected to be among the hottest overseas picks, will not feature this year.

Jason Roy: Consecutive Withdrawals Close the Door

Jason Roy’s absence results from back-to-back withdrawals. After opting out of IPL 2024 and failing to register for the 2025 mega auction, Roy effectively exited the entire cycle. Under the rules, players who skip a full mega-auction window cannot re-enter mid-cycle, making Roy ineligible as well.

With the auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, and 77 slots open across 10 teams, the absence of these three marquee England players significantly alters the overseas landscape. Franchises now shift focus toward emerging international talents, associate-nation cricketers, and in-form domestic performers. Their absence is expected to increase competition for the remaining high-impact all-rounders and top-order hitters always premium categories in IPL bidding.

A total of 1355 cricketers from around the world have registered for the IPL 2026 players auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16. According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, 43 overseas players and two Indian players have put their names in the highest base price category of ₹2 crore. The auction is expected to see a big bidding war as teams look to sign top overseas stars like Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.

Green missed the 2025 season of the world’s richest franchise league because of an injury. Pathirana, on the other hand, was surprisingly released by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The young fast bowler, who has a slinging action similar to Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga, is expected to be a top target for many franchises. Looking at the trend of past IPL mini auctions, it won’t be a surprise if he becomes one of the most expensive players this year.

Mitchell Starc holds the record for being the most expensive player in an IPL mini auction. He was bought for ₹24.75 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders before IPL 2024. KKR will enter the IPL 2026 auction with a purse of ₹64.30 crore, and after keeping only 12 players, they are expected to make some big signings again.

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Why Overseas Players Can’t Get More Than ₹18 Crore

But this time, in the IPL 2026 auction, no overseas player can earn more than ₹18 crore. The reason is the new IPL rules introduced by the BCCI before last year’s mega auction. According to the rules, the maximum fee for any overseas player in a mini auction is capped at ₹18 crore. Even if a team bids more, the player will still get only ₹18 crore. This limit was based on the highest retention slab for the 2025 mega auction.

If teams bid above ₹18 crore for an overseas player, the extra amount will be used by the BCCI for player welfare. However, this rule does not apply to Indian players. Indian players will receive the full amount of their winning bid.

How the Rule Works

If players like Green or Pathirana are bought for ₹20 crore, they will receive ₹18 crore and the remaining ₹2 crore will go to BCCI’s welfare fund. But the entire ₹20 crore will be deducted from the team’s purse. If an Indian player is bought for the same amount, he will get the full ₹20 crore.

Chennai Super Kings are now in a different period after their significant off-season changes prior to IPL 2026. The team made a significant move by trading their key all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, for Sanju Samson. This trade surprised the fans a lot, but on the other hand, it benefited the team financially as it released a huge amount of ₹43.40 crore into their budget. CSK also let go of 10 players, which means they can now build a team that would not face the same issue of imbalance as the previous year.

The auction will no doubt attract CSK's eye with a number of foreign players, yet the all-rounder from the West Indies, Jason Holder, is the one who attracts the most attention among other players as a compelling target. His participation in IPL has been sporadic since 2013, but Holder has managed to get into the best T20 cricket form quietly, which makes him a strong candidate for being bought cheaply with high chances of return.

1. Holder Is Having His Best T20I Period

Once regarded as a first-class all-rounder, Holder's white-ball career did not show such remarkable heights until now. In 2025, the 34-year-old player welcomes the T20 format with full commitment and has already played 23 T20Is for West Indies this year.

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His stats are impressive: 31 scalps at an average of 22.61 and an economy of 8.60, along with a drastic increase in the batting department, almost 20 runs per innings, with a 149+ strike rate. In a field where the current form often plays a bigger part than the reputation, this revival makes Holder a very proper option for the changing squad of CSK.

2. Much-Needed Bowling Versatility for CSK

The main problem that CSK faced in the previous season was their pace attack's lack of diversity. While Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj did an excellent job as new-ball bowlers, Matheesha Pathirana's main role was to bowl at the death. This often led CSK to use spinners in the non-favourable match-up phases.

With Holder, they step up the game. The West Indian bowler has had a good year in T20Is, bowling in the different phases effectively:

• Powerplay: 34 overs, 12 wickets, avg 25.20
• Middle overs: 18 overs, 3 wickets, econ 8.50
• Death overs: 29.3 overs, 16 wickets, avg 15.40, econ 8.34

This rare efficiency of three phases is exactly what CSK needed.

3. A Non-Negotiable Role After the Exit of Jadeja and Curran

CSK's need is urgent for a reliable lower-order all-rounder after the departures of Jadeja and Curran, with the all-rounder options becoming fewer due to retirements or the non-availability of Andre Russell, Glenn Maxwell, and Moeen Ali. Cameron Green may be the headline name at the auction, but Holder is likely to have exceptional value and experience at a lower price.

The upcoming mini auction of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is just a couple of weeks away. Several batters have shown their caliber with the bat and ball in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025/26, as the former Indian batter, Aakash Chopra, picks Karthik Sharma to be the most expensive uncapped player.

The Rajasthan wicket-keeper batter, Karthik Sharma, has overall smashed 298 runs in nine innings of the T20s at an average of 33.11 and a strike rate of 165.55, with the help of two half-centuries at the best score of 58. In the ongoing SMAT 2025/26, he drilled 97 runs in three innings at 32.33.

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“The batting has been overhauled because Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi, and Deepak Hooda have been released. Hooda has set the stage on fire for Rajasthan. However, will the team look back on him? I am not sure. Although it seems they don’t need batting considering the form of the top six, I feel they need batting because they have also released Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra.” Chopra expressed in his YouTube video.

Aakash Chopra predicts Rajasthan’s Karthik Sharma to be most expensive uncapped player

Along with Chopra, the former Indian spin all-rounder, Ravichandran Ashwin, also lauded Karthik’s wicket-keeping and batting skills. Chopra reckoned that there could be a bidding war for the 19-year-old between the Chennai Super Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders.

“I feel they will shop for batters. There is a boy named Kartik Sharma. He hits a lot of sixes. He can go to Kolkata as well, as he is a wicketkeeper-batter, and he can also come here. He won’t keep. He is a Rajasthan boy. He might be the highest-paid uncapped player in this auction. He might go to them. There is a strong possibility.” Chopra shed light in his video.

“He is young and baggage-free. He is a power hitter in the middle order. You can say that you can bank on his talent. It is easier to bat there, but for a youngster to come in and create impact in the middle order in T20 cricket is not easy.” Ashwin said in the YouTube video.