5 Fast Bowlers Who Could Be Expensive in IPL 2026 Auction

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5 Fast Bowlers Who Could Be Expensive in IPL 2026: The IPL 2026 auction will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16th. Ten teams will bid for 77 slots, with the process starting at 2:30 PM. While the T20 format certainly favors batsmen, a good bowler can turn a losing game in their team's favor. That's why Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were the first two players to fetch more than ₹20 crore (approximately $200 million) at auction. Find out which five balls could fetch the most in the upcoming auction.

5 Pace Bowlers to Watch Out For in the IPL 2026 Auction

5. Chetan Sakariya

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27-year-old Chetan Sakariya was also part of the Kolkata Knight Riders last year, playing only one match. Sakariya is a good bowler, although he hasn't had enough opportunities to prove himself. He has taken 20 wickets in 20 IPL matches. Chetan Sakariya's base price is ₹75 lakh, but he could fetch crores.

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4. Lungi Ngidi

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29-year-old South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi was part of last year's champion team (RCB), but Royal Challengers Bangalore has released him. Ngidi's base price is ₹2 crore, but this amount could go much higher due to his recent form.

Lungi Ngidi bowled brilliantly in the first two T20Is against India, dismissing Shubman Gill in the first over of both matches. He has taken a total of 5 wickets in two matches. Last year, he played only two matches for RCB, taking 4 wickets.

3. Akash Deep

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Indian fast bowler Akash Deep has been playing in the IPL since 2022, but he hasn't received enough opportunities in any season. He has played only 14 matches in four seasons, taking 10 wickets. Akash played three seasons for RCB and one season for Lucknow Super Giants, but has been released by LSG. Akash's base price in the IPL auction is ₹1 crore, but CSK and Hyderabad could bid heavily for him.

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2. Anrich Nortje

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Anrich Nortje, a South African bowler, could be another player who could fetch a hefty sum. The 32-year-old Anrich Nortje was part of the KKR squad last year, but the team has also released him. However, he played only two matches in the previous season, taking just one wicket. He has also taken 60 wickets in 46 matches for the Delhi Capitals.

1. Mathisha Pathirana

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Many teams will be eyeing Sri Lankan fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana, who has played for the Chennai Super Kings for the past four editions. He has taken 47 wickets in 32 IPL matches, specializing in his excellent bowling in the powerplay and death overs.

Mathisha Pathirana's base price in the auction is ₹2 crore. Looking at his record in T20 Internationals, he has taken 31 wickets in 21 matches. CSK could also bring him back into their squad.

Also Read: List of the most expensive players each year in IPL history

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