IPL 2026 Auction: Who Will Become the Costliest Player?

Every IPL auction has delivered record-breaking bids, and the excitement has only grown over the years. Sam Curran’s ₹18.5 crore (2023), Mitchell Starc’s ₹24.75 crore (2024), and Rishabh Pant’s historic ₹27 crore deal in 2025 have set the stage for the 2026 auction to break even bigger records. With the auction approaching, fans are eager to know: Who will become the most expensive player of IPL 2026?

This year’s auction pool includes high-demand players like Cameron Green, Ravi Bishnoi, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Josh Inglis, and David Miller. There is intense competition expected between team owners Kavya Maran (SRH), Preity Zinta (PBKS), and Nita Ambani (MI), especially for Green and Bishnoi.

With teams desperate to strengthen their all-rounder and spin departments, franchise owners are prepared to spend big — even beyond ₹30 crore — if required. The big question now is: Who will break Rishabh Pant’s ₹27 crore record?

All eyes are on December 16 as the IPL 2026 auction promises to create new history and possibly unveil the costliest player the league has ever seen.