With the IPL 2026 auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, attention across franchises has shifted toward key Indian bowlers who are expected to attract strong bids. With 350 players shortlisted for the event and 77 slots available across ten teams, domestic bowlers have emerged as priority targets owing to a newly introduced cap on overseas player salaries, purse limitations faced by some teams, and a growing need for consistent Indian specialists across phases of the game.
Auction Framework and Team Strategies
The BCCI has also confirmed that a total available purse value of Rs 237.50 crore is up for grabs in this year’s IPL mini-auction. The franchise strategy has indeed taken a significant shift this year, as the maximum fee for overseas players is under the cap, which has been Rs 18 crore. There is no such rule for Indian players, which has opened all doors for home ground bowlers to attract big bids.
Teams have meanwhile revealed several high-profile overseas names going into the auction. Stars like Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway and Matheesha Pathirana find themselves back in the auction pool, leaving holes which franchises may try to fill with cheaper, more reliable Indian options.
Purse distribution is far from even among the teams. The Kolkata Knight Riders have the highest available amount, Rs 64.3 crore, for huge scope in recruiting premium players. On the other end, the Mumbai Indians can only manage a purse of Rs 2.75 crore, which will restrict them to retaining only a few emerging talents. The Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, with Rs 43.4 crore, will be well-placed to move for some strategic replacements after a major reshuffling of their overseas pack.
Five to Watch: Indian Bowlers
It is here that five Indian bowlers have come up as the most watched names for the auction. Their recent performances in domestic cricket and IPL seasons have positioned them as top contenders for competitive bidding.
Ravi Bishnoi: The High Impact Wrist Spinner
Wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi is likely to be one of the hottest Indian bowlers in the 2026 auction. With his sharp googly, tight lines and controlled aggression, Bishnoi has emerged as a reliable middle-overs weapon. But he can also work with great success inside the powerplay, making him a fine multi-phase bowler.
Bishnoi, who was bought by the Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 11 crore in an earlier auction. Has been among the many impact-makers of late across formats. This year again, teams seem keen to strengthen their spin departments and hence Bishnoi is expected to be in high demand from franchises that have released overseas spin options. Squads with a keen eye on spin assets include the Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Akash Deep: Dependable Option for Pace over Overs
Left out, Pacer Akash Deep had a case going for him since the way he had been progressing over the last couple of IPL seasons was out to notice. His ability to swing the new ball with decent seam movement and deliver composed death-overs spell positions him as a fine domestic pacer.
Akash Deep was quite a revelation for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, especially in pressure situations. The fact that many franchises have released some of their mainstay pacers or are facing injury issues with overseas fast bowlers means an Indian seamer who can do the job over several overs could well see demands being made for his services come the draft. His profile suits teams wanting Indian pace support without exhausting overseas slots.
Vignesh Puthur: Death-over Specialist from the Mumbai Indians setup.
The performances of Vignesh Puthur, a bright spark from the Mumbai Indians ecosystem, were amongst some of his notable ones this season in death-overs bowling. His control and temperament were very good on slower tracks, something that highlighted his potential to operate in challenging phases of the game.
The Mumbai Indians, with a very restricted purse this time, are unlikely to retain him in case of aggressive bidding. This leaves him fair game for other teams who will look at him as an economical purchase, but one providing high utility as a seamer. Puthur’s competency for bowling in pressure situations makes him an attractive option for franchises seeking finishing overs reliability at moderate price ranges.
Rahul Chahar: A Spinner Experienced in Making Middle Overs Count
Leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has loads of IPL experience and a decent track record across franchises like Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings. An aggressive approach, wicket-taking ability in the middle overs, along with his effectiveness on dry and turning pitches, are added advantages of his.
Chahar is considered an established spin option who can easily fit into any team, whether it is looking to rebuild or strengthen its spin department. With quite a few franchises reassessing their spin combinations after releasing overseas bowlers, Chahar’s experience could attract competitive interest.
Kumar Kartikeya: The left-arm spinner who varies it by flight and turn.
Kumar Kartikeya, a left-arm spinner, has been in the limelight for his peculiar combination of orthodox spin and variations that seem to be akin to the mechanics of wrist-spin. His unorthodox nature and the ability to fit into any situation in a match make him an asset as a strategic bowler.
Kartikeya, who has shown that he can bowl in the powerplay overs and hold the spells together in the middle overs, will fit the requirement of any team wanting versatility in their spin attacks. The fact that such Indian bowlers don’t take any overseas slot raises his prospects of enticing strong bids.
Greater focus on Indian Bowling Talent
It signals the changing dynamics brought about by the restraint the salary cap imposes on overseas stars. Since foreign stars are capped at a maximum value, franchises might be tempted to utilize more of their budgets towards an impactful Indian bowler.
240 Indian players form the bulk of the overall list, with the depth promising franchises a number of options, though bowlers with IPL exposure or standout domestic records may dominate the early sessions of bidding.
Teams Open Spots with Released Players
In fact, the release of several overseas bowlers and all-rounders opened up slots which teams might fill with local bowling resources. A case in point is Chennai Super Kings releasing their lead overseas pack, which might be a signal for them to invest in Indian spin and pace resources. Likewise, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals are contemplating replacements for positions occupied earlier by their respective overseas bowlers.
The absence of veteran overseas names also frees up more responsible positions for Indian bowlers, which may lead to frenetic bidding activity in the first half of the auction. Strategic Considerations Pre-Auction Teams with higher purse balances, including KKR and CSK, would likely fight aggressively for top-tier Indian bowlers. Franchises with limited budgets may focus on emerging talents available in lower price brackets, such as Puthur or Kartikeya. A number of teams are also likely to target multi-phase bowlers, aka those who can be effective in powerplay, middle overs or death overs, to maximize value per slot. That puts bowlers like Bishnoi and Akash Deep in strong positions entering the auction process.