The Tata IPL 2026 auction witnessed aggressive bidding early on, with franchises opening their purses for marquee names and high-potential picks. Cameron Green emerged as the biggest buy of the day so far, as Kolkata Knight Riders secured the Australian all-rounder for a hefty ₹25.20 crore, underlining their intent to add firepower with both bat and ball.
Close behind was Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who attracted strong interest before being picked up for ₹18 crore. His ability to bowl at the death once again proved to be a major draw, making him one of the most expensive specialist seamers at the auction so far.
Chennai Super Kings were among the most active teams in the top bracket, signing two players at ₹14.20 crore each. Young spinner Prashant Veer drew significant attention before CSK sealed the deal, while wicketkeeper Kartik Sharma was also snapped up at the same price, strengthening the franchise’s Indian core and bench depth.
Rounding off the top five buys of the auction so far was Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was picked up for ₹9.20 crore. Known for his variations and experience in Indian conditions, Mustafizur adds proven T20 pedigree to his new side.
With several big names still to come under the hammer, the early action at the IPL 2026 auction suggests franchises are prioritising impact players and squad balance, setting the stage for more high-stakes bidding as proceedings continue.
