IPL 2026 Auction: The Ultimate Blueprint – Decoding Every Team’s Strategy Top Targets

▎IPL 2026 Auction: The Ultimate Blueprint – Decoding Every Team’s Strategy Top Targets

• IPL 2026 Auction: The dust has settled on a seismic IPL 2025 retention day, setting the stage for what promises to be a tactical masterclass in the mini-auction on December 16th in Abu Dhabi. The term “mini-auction” is a misnomer this year; it’s a high-stakes poker game where franchises, armed with reconfigured squads and bulging purses, will battle to fill critical voids left by the release of some of the league’s biggest stars.Andre Russell, Sanju Samson, Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer – the list of high-profile releases reads like an All-Star roster. This isn’t just an auction; it’s a franchise – redefining event that will lay the foundation for the IPL 2026 title. Let’s dive deep into the purse, the gaps, and the potential targets for all ten teams.

Team-by-Team Analysis: Gaps, Strategy Auction Targets ➡️

▎1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – Purse: ₹64.30 Cr | Slots: 13 | Overseas: 6

The Situation: KKR has pressed the nuclear button. Releasing Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer signals a complete overhaul. With the largest purse in IPL history, they are the undisputed kings of this auction. They need to build an entire core from scratch.

Gaps: Power-hitting all-rounder (to replace Russell), Top-order Indian batter, a world-class pace bowler, and a wicketkeeper.

Auction Strategy: Aggressive and targeted. They will go hard for the biggest names available. Expect them to break the bank for multiple players.

Likely Targets:-

• Primary (All-rounder): They will be the front-runners for Wanindu Hasaranga. His leg-spin and explosive batting make him a direct, albeit different, replacement for Russell. Rachin Ravindra is another multi-utility option.
• Primary (Batter): With a gaping hole at the top, don’t be surprised if they make a massive bid for an Indian opener like Abhishek Sharma or even go all-out for a marquee overseas name like Travis Head.
• Wildcard: They have the money to lure a retained star from another team via a pre-auition trade, perhaps for a proven Indian pacer like Harshal Patel or Avesh Khan.

▎2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – Purse: ₹43.40 Cr | Slots: 9 | Overseas: 4

The Situation: The five-time champions finished last in 2025, a reality check that has prompted a bold rebuild. The trade that sent Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to RR for Sanju Samson is the headline. MS Dhoni is expected to play one final season, and CSK will build a squad to give him a perfect farewell.

Gaps: A death-overs specialist pacer, a spin-bowling all-rounder (to replace Jadeja), and Indian middle-order batting depth.

Auction Strategy: Calculated and specific. They don’t need many players, but the ones they need are crucial. They will identify 3-4 primary targets and spend big on them.

Likely Targets:-

• Primary (Pacer): Pat Cummins or Mitchell Starc. If either enters the auction, CSK will be major players. They need a leader for their pace attack. If not, Gerald Coetzee is a strong candidate.
• Primary (All-rounder): They need a spinner who can bat. Wanindu Hasaranga (if KKR doesn’t get him) or a younger Indian option like Shahbaz Ahmed could be targeted.
• Primary (Batter): With Samson slotting into the top order, they need a finisher. They might look at someone like Shivam Dube (a familiar face) or an overseas power-hitter.

▎3. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) – Purse: ₹30.75 Cr | Slots: 8 | Overseas: 3

The Situation: Releasing Ravi Bishnoi after acquiring Digvesh Rathi shows a clear strategic shift. They have a solid core but lack X-factor players in certain departments.

Gaps: A world-class spinner (post-Bishnoi release), a power-hitting finisher, and a backup for their pace attack.

Auction Strategy: Balanced reinforcement. They have a good purse to fill a few key roles without desperation.

Likely Targets:-

1. Primary (Spinner): They will be in the market for a lead spinner. Adil Rashid or Tabraiz Shamsi could be perfect overseas picks. If they want an Indian, R Sai Kishore is a consistent performer.
2. Primary (Finisher): A player like Shahrukh Khan or an overseas dasher like James Neesham could provide the firepower they need in the lower middle-order.

▎4. Delhi Capitals (DC) – Purse: ₹29.55 Cr | Slots: 10 | Overseas: 4 https://sasaramvlogs.in

The Situation: DC had a busy retention day, acquiring Nitish Rana, which solidifies their Indian batting. Releasing Jack Fraser-McGurk was a tough but necessary call after a poor debut season.

Gaps: A dynamic overseas opener (to replace McGurk), a fast-bowling all-rounder, and Indian pace depth.

Auction Strategy: To find explosive value. They need a high-impact player at the top and to round out their bowling unit.

Likely Targets:-

• Primary (Opener): They will likely target another young, explosive opener. Rachin Ravindra offers a left-handed option and handy spin. They might also reconsider a cheaper Jack Fraser-McGurk if no one else bids high.
• Primary (All-rounder): A pace-bowling all-rounder like Marcus Stoinis or Dwaine Pretorius would provide excellent balance.
• Pacer: With 10 slots, they will look for Indian pace backups like Ishant Sharma or Sandeep Warrier.

▎5. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) – Purse: ₹27.20 Cr | Slots: 8 | Overseas: 3

The Situation: SRH often has a settled yet underperforming squad. They need players who can change the momentum of a game single-handedly.

Gaps: A reliable middle-order anchor, a wicket-taking spinner, and a finisher.

Auction Strategy: To find a game-changer. They have the money to go for one or two premium players who can solve their perennial middle-order woes.

Likely Targets:-

1. Primary (Middle-Order): This is their biggest hole. They could launch an audacious bid for an Indian mainstay if available, or look at overseas rocks like Babar Azam (if he enters) or the ever-consistent Daryl Mitchell.
2. Primary (Spinner): They need a spinner who can control the middle overs. Adam Zampa or Keshav Maharaj would be excellent additions.

▎6. Punjab Kings (PBKS) – Purse: ₹23.00 Cr | Slots: 4 | Overseas: 1

The Situation: PBKS has retained 21 players, the most of any team. This means they are largely happy with their core and are looking for specific, high-impact upgrades.

Gaps: A death-overs bowling specialist, and one more reliable top-order batter.

Auction Strategy: Surgical and precise. With only 4 slots, they will have a very clear list of 2-3 players they want.

Likely Targets:-

1. Primary (Pacer): They have always needed a gun death bowler. They could break the bank for someone like Lockie Ferguson or Josh Hazlewood if available.
2. Backup Batter: With one overseas slot, they might look for a versatile batter who can keep, like Josh Inglis, or a pure hitter like Tim David.

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▎7. Rajasthan Royals (RR) – Purse: ₹22.75 Cr | Slots: 8 | Overseas: 3

The Situation: The trade that brought Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran from CSK for Sanju Samson is a blockbuster. It gives them the most formidable all-rounder duo in the league but creates a huge hole at wicketkeeper and captain.

Gaps: A wicketkeeper-batter (and likely new captain), Indian batting depth, and a backup spinner.

Auction Strategy: Find a new leader and keeper. This is their single most important task.

Likely Targets:-

• Primary (WK/Captain): This is the story of their auction. They will go all-in for KL Rahul if he is released, or target a seasoned pro like Dinesh Karthik for a short-term fix. A left-field option could be Josh Inglis as a keeper, with an Indian like Ajinkya Rahane taking captaincy.
• Support Roles: With Curran and Jadeja, their all-rounder needs are met. They will use the rest of the purse to buy solid Indian bench strength.

▎8. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – Purse: ₹21.85 Cr | Slots: 7 | Overseas: 2

The Situation: Perennially top-heavy, RCB’s challenge is always to build a balanced squad around their star batters. They need match-winners in the bowling department.

Gaps: A quality spin-bowling all-rounder, a world-class death bowler, and a power-hitter down the order.

Auction Strategy: Bolster the bowling and find a finisher. They cannot afford another season where the bowling lets them down.

Likely Targets:-

• Primary (All-rounder): A spin-bowling all-rounder is gold for RCB. They will target Wanindu Hasaranga (a familiar face) or Akeal Hosein.
• Primary (Pacer): They need a yorker specialist. A bid for Mitchell Starc (another returning hero) is a romantic and strategic possibility. Otherwise, Gerald Coetzee or Obed McCoy are options.
• Finisher: A player like David Miller or Shahrukh Khan could be the missing piece in their batting puzzle.

▎9. Gujarat Titans (GT) – Purse: ₹18.50 Cr | Slots: 5 | Overseas: 2

The Situation: GT is the model of a well-managed franchise. They have a strong core and a clear identity. Their needs are about fine-tuning and adding depth.

Gaps: A backup Indian pacer, an explosive middle-order batsman, and a backup wicketkeeper.

Auction Strategy: Value for money. GT are masters of finding gems at a reasonable price. They will target specific role players.

Likely Targets:-

• Primary (Batter): They might look for an Indian batter who can accelerate in the middle, like Riyan Parag or Rinku Singh (if available).
• Backup Pacer: An experienced Indian seamer like Umesh Yadav or Jaydev Unadkat provides excellent depth.
• Overseas Slot: They might use one overseas slot on a versatile player like Rilee Rossouw who can bat anywhere.

▎10. Mumbai Indians (MI) – Purse: ₹17.50 Cr | Slots: 5 | Overseas: 2

The Situation: MI has the smallest purse and the least number of slots. This means their auction is about precision, not power. They have a strong first XI but need to fortify their bench.

Gaps: Backup for Jasprit Bumrah in the pace department, a backup spinner, and an Indian middle-order batter.

Auction Strategy: Smart, under-the-radar picks. They will look for experienced domestic players who can step in when needed.

Likely Targets:-

• Primary (Pacer): Their number one target will be a reliable Indian pacer. Ishant Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, or Siddarth Kaul are the kind of shrewd picks MI is known for.
• Backup Spinner: A domestic spinner like Murugan Ashwin or R Sai Kishore could be targeted.
• Overseas Slot: They might use one slot on a versatile all-rounder like Ashton Agar to bolster their options.

▎Three Former High-Paid Players Likely To Be Sold Cheap: The auction is a brutal meritocracy. Past performance guarantees nothing, and these three stars from the 2025 mega-auction are poised for a sobering reality check.

1. Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 Cr in 2025): Bought for a king’s ransom by KKR, Iyer had a season to forget. His inability to lock down a specific role and deliver consistent performances makes him a major gamble. While his talent is undeniable, franchises will be wary of spending more than ₹7-8 crore on a “project player” who has already had a poor season.
2. Ravi Bishnoi (₹11 Cr in 2025): Once considered India’s next spin superstar, Bishnoi’s form has dipped considerably. With LSG releasing him after acquiring a younger option, his stock has fallen. In a market that may feature established leg-spinners like Hasaranga and Zampa, Bishnoi might find himself as a secondary option, likely fetching between ₹4-6 crore.
3. Jack Fraser-McGurk (₹9 Cr in 2025): Hype is a dangerous currency in the IPL. McGurk’s explosive batting in other leagues couldn’t translate to the IPL, managing just 55 runs in 6 games. While his potential remains, franchises will view him as a high-risk, high-reward project. He is unlikely to command more than ₹3-4 crore, a fraction of his previous price.

• Conclusion: The IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi is not just about spending money; it’s about spending it wisely. With KKR holding an unprecedented war chest and teams like CSK and RR undergoing radical transformations, the bidding war will be fierce. The franchises that best identify their core weaknesses and secure their primary targets will emerge as the front-runners for the coveted IPL 2026 trophy. Buckle up for a day of high drama, shocking bids, and franchise-altering decisions.

Stay tuned to our website for live coverage and real-time updates from the IPL 2026 Auction on December 16! ✨