TL;DR: Several well-known cricketers who were part of the IPL 2025 season surprisingly went unsold in the IPL 2026 mini-auction held on 16 December 2025 in Abu Dhabi. Notable names include Devon Conway, Jonny Bairstow, Daryl Mitchell, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Deepak Hooda, and Alzarri Joseph. Overall, 79 players remained unsold in the auction, including 48 Indian players and 31 overseas players, despite many having previous IPL experience.
Quick Reads
- Auction Date: 16 December 2025
- Location: Abu Dhabi
- Total Players Registered: 1,355
- Players Shortlisted for Auction: 369
- Players Sold: 77
- Players Unsold: 79
- Several IPL 2025 players surprisingly received no bids.
Top 10 Unsold Players in IPL 2026 Auction (Played in IPL 2025)
| Rank | Player | Country | IPL 2025 Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devon Conway | New Zealand | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2 | Jonny Bairstow | England | Punjab Kings |
| 3 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | Chennai Super Kings |
| 4 | Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Afghanistan | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 5 | Deepak Hooda | India | Lucknow Super Giants |
| 6 | Alzarri Joseph | West Indies | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| 7 | Gus Atkinson | England | Kolkata Knight Riders (squad) |
| 8 | Jamie Smith | England | Delhi Capitals (squad) |
| 9 | Jake Fraser-McGurk | Australia | Delhi Capitals |
| 10 | Karn Sharma | India | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
These players had previous IPL experience in the 2025 season or earlier editions but failed to attract bids during the 2026 auction.
Biggest Surprise Unsold Players
Devon Conway
The New Zealand opener was one of the biggest shocks of the auction. Conway was a key member of Chennai Super Kings’ batting lineup in earlier seasons and played an important role in their championship campaigns. Yet he remained unsold with a base price of ₹2 crore.
Jonny Bairstow
England’s aggressive wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, who previously played for Punjab Kings, also failed to find a buyer despite his reputation as a powerful T20 opener.
Daryl Mitchell
Another surprising omission was New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell, who had a solid IPL 2025 season but still went unsold in the auction.
Why Some IPL 2025 Players Went Unsold
There are several reasons why experienced players sometimes go unsold in auctions:
1. Team Combination
Franchises prioritize squad balance and may already have similar players.
2. Budget Limitations
Teams have fixed auction purses and often focus on younger or cheaper players.
3. Recent Form
Players who struggled with injuries or poor form may receive fewer bids.
4. Auction Strategy
Some teams intentionally skip certain players in early rounds but later reconsider them in replacement signings.
Interesting Facts About IPL 2026 Auction
- The auction saw Cameron Green become the most expensive overseas player in IPL history.
- Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma became the highest-paid uncapped Indian players.
- The auction had 369 shortlisted players but only 77 were sold.
Sources
- Olympics.com
- ESPNcricinfo
- NDTV Sports
- Wisden Cricket
- IPLT20 Official Website
Disclaimer
This article is for informational and news-reporting purposes. Player availability and auction results are based on publicly reported data from IPL auction coverage. Teams may later sign replacement players during the tournament depending on injuries or squad changes.
