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Top 5 high-profile players who went unsold in the IPL 2026 auction: The IPL 2026 mini-auction was held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025. Several prominent players went under the hammer during the auction. Cameron Green became the most expensive foreign player in IPL auction history. Green was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹25.20 crore. Besides Green, KKR also acquired Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore.
However, several big names went unsold in this auction. Let's take a look at the top 5 players who did not find a buyer in the mini-auction
List of Big Players Unsold in IPL 2026 Auction
1. Jonny Bairstow
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England's aggressive wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow remaining unsold was one of the biggest shocks of this auction. Known for his explosive batting, Bairstow had been struggling with inconsistency lately. Franchises did not consider it worthwhile to bid on him, given his high base price and recent form.
2. Devon Conway
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New Zealand batsman Devon Conway remained unsold in the IPL 2026 auction. His base price was ₹2 crore. Until the previous season, he was part of CSK. Last time, CSK retained him for ₹6.25 crore, but this time he found no buyers.
Also Read: IPL Auction 2026 Live Updates, Complete list of sold and unsold players
3. Maheesh Theekshana
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Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana did not find a buyer this time. He was part of Rajasthan Royals (RR) until last season, who had bought him for ₹4.40 crore. Before that, he had also played for Chennai under Dhoni's captaincy, but this time his mystery spin failed to impress.
4. Jake Fraser-McGurk
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Australian young player Jake Fraser-McGurk's name came up first in the auction, but no franchise showed any interest. He had a base price of 2 crore.
- 2025 Season: Bought by Delhi Capitals for 9 crore.
- Performance: 385 runs in 15 matches, but only managed 55 runs in 6 matches last season.
5. Daryl Mitchell
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New Zealand's star all-rounder Daryl Mitchell is also on this list. Mitchell, who was sold for crores of rupees in previous auctions, was not included in any team's strategy in this mini-auction, which was quite a surprising decision for cricket fans.
Also Read: IPL 2026 All Teams Squad & Strongest Playing 11 with Impact Players
Quick Summary: 5 Shocking Unsold Players in IPL 2026
| Name | Country | Base Price | Previous Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonny Bairstow | England | 2.00 Cr | PBKS |
| Devon Conway | New Zealand | 2.00 Cr | CSK |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Sri Lanka | 2.00 Cr | RR |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | Australia | 2.00 Cr | DC |
| Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | 2.00 Cr | CSK |
Also Read: Most Expensive Players in IPL 2026 Auction, Full List of Highest Paid Players
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