Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw, two of the most prominent names to go unsold in last year’s full Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, have once again entered the fray—this time as part of the opening set of players for the 2026 season. The highly anticipated auction will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, marking a fresh opportunity for both players to revive their IPL careers.
Sarfaraz, who was part of India’s Test setup earlier this year, surprisingly found no bidders during the previous full auction. Shaw endured his own turbulent phase, having been dropped by Mumbai midway through the domestic season before being overlooked by all IPL teams. His move to Maharashtra, along with noticeable improvements in consistency and fitness, has put him back on the radar as the new auction cycle approaches.
Both batters have been placed in the first set of capped players with a base price of Rs. 75 lakh. They appear alongside an elite group that includes Devon Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green and David Miller—each of whom has entered with a Rs. 2 crore base price. In a notable change, Green has been listed solely as a batter for this year’s auction.
The IPL authorities released the final auction list on Tuesday, exactly one week before the event. A total of 350 players make up the pool, featuring 112 Indians and 238 overseas cricketers, with a maximum of 77 slots to be filled across all franchises. With competition expected to be fierce, this year’s auction promises several strategic moves from teams looking to rebuild or reinforce ahead of the 2026 season.
The second set in the auction will feature Venkatesh Iyer, who enters with a Rs. 2 crore base price after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders. He is joined by Deepak Hooda, listed at Rs. 75 lakh, and five overseas allrounders who are likely to draw significant interest.
Among the 350 registered players, 40 have opted for the highest base price of Rs. 2 crore, reflecting the depth of international talent on offer. At the other end of the spectrum, 227 uncapped domestic players have entered the auction at the minimum base price of Rs. 30 lakh, hoping to earn a breakthrough opportunity.
For Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw, the auction offers a chance at redemption and a path back into the league where both once shone brightly. With renewed focus and promising form, their return to the spotlight sets the stage for an intriguing bidding war on December 16.
