Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan went unsold at the IPL 2026 auction, a surprising outcome that came just hours after he produced a blistering reminder of his T20 credentials in domestic cricket.
Less than an hour before the auction proceedings began in Abu Dhabi, Sarfaraz smashed a 15-ball half-century for Mumbai against Rajasthan in a Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Super League Group B match at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The knock underlined his power-hitting ability and impeccable timing, arriving at a moment when franchises were finalising their auction strategies.
Earlier this month, Sarfaraz had also marked a strong return to T20 cricket by scoring his maiden T20 hundred, remaining unbeaten on 100 off 47 balls against Assam in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. That innings, which included eight fours and seven sixes, powered Mumbai to a dominant 98-run victory and was his first T20 appearance in more than two years.
Despite his domestic exploits and a promising start to his Test career, Sarfaraz has struggled to find sustained backing in the shortest format. He was previously unsold at the last full IPL auction, and that trend continued at the IPL 2026 auction, where franchises chose not to place a bid for the right-handed batter.
Sarfaraz had entered the auction among the capped batters, carrying a base price of Rs 75 lakh. His latest performances suggest form is not the issue, but factors such as team combinations and role clarity may have influenced franchise decisions.
Going unsold does not close the door entirely, as players can still return later in the season as injury replacements. For now, Sarfaraz Khan’s powerful statement with the bat remains one of the most talked-about moments surrounding the IPL 2026 auction.
