The IPL 2026 auction is all ready to take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. The mini-auction will have 350 players. The 10 franchises can fill a total of 77 positions, with 31 earmarked for international players.
A total of 1,390 players registered for the IPL 2026 auction, with the final list reduced to 350. Of the players shortlisted for the auction, 240 are Indian and 110 are international cricketers. The list included 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players. Furthermore, the pool contains 16 capped Indian cricketers and 96 capped international players.
The highest reserve price for the auction remains at ₹2 crore. Forty participants have offered themselves with the highest base price of ₹2 crore. In this piece, we explore at five players with ₹2 crore base price who may go unsold at the IPL 2026 auction.
1. Steve Smith (Australia)
Experienced Australian batsman Steve Smith has played for more than a decade over 100 IPL games, but hasn’t featured in the tournament since 2021, when he last represented Delhi Capitals (DC). In 103 IPL matches, Smith has scored 2,485 runs at an average of 34.51 and a strike rate of 128.09. His T20 career strike rate is also under 130.
In the modern era, where a strike rate of at least 150 is seemingly compulsory for top-class T20 batters, Smith’s scoring rate has seen him fall down the pecking order for franchises. He has a T20 average of 24.53 and a strike rate of 147.11 in the Big Bash League (BBL), although it is unlikely teams will bid for him at the IPL 2026 auction.
2. Jason Holder (West Indies)
West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder was a high-value buy at IPL auctions at one point of time. In 2022, his roller-coaster bid resulted in Lucknow Super Giants buying him for ₹8.75 crore, and the next year Rajasthan Royals acquired him for ₹5.75 crore. Holder has featured in 46 IPL games and picked up 53 wickets along with 259 runs.
However, his form dropped in the next two seasons as he finished with an economy rate above nine in both 2022 and 2023. Accordingly, he has not played in the IPL since 2023, and with an unremarkable utility value and high economy rate, it seems Holder is on course to go unsold again.
3. Tom Banton (England)
Not long ago, Tom Banton was the most sought-after young talent in global T20 cricket. He was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹1 crore at the IPL 2020 auction, however played only two matches in which he scored 18 runs and hasn’t since featured in the league.
Currently featuring in the ILT20, the 27-year-old has scored 101 runs in four innings for MI Emirates at an average of 25.25 and a strike rate of 129.48. He has also struggled to cement his place in England’s setup. Although Banton has listed himself at ₹2 crore for the IPL 2026 auction, he is unlikely to attract much interest from franchises.
4. Matt Henry (New Zealand)
New Zealand pacer Matt Henry has only six IPL games to his name. He first played in 2017 for Punjab Kings (PBKS), appearing in two matches, before returning during the 2024 edition and capturing just one wicket in four outings.
Despite having featured in 174 T20 matches overall, Henry has represented New Zealand in only 31 T20Is since making his debut more than a decade ago. His talent is unquestionable, but recurring injuries have made franchises cautious — a concern that could again affect his chances at the upcoming auction.
5. Josh Inglis (Australia)
Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis had a strong IPL 2025 campaign with PBKS, who finished as runners-up. He scored 278 runs in 11 innings at an average of 30.88 and a strike rate of 162.57, with a top score of 73. Inglis also chipped in with a brisk 39 off 23 in the final. However, PBKS released him ahead of the 2026 season due to anticipated availability issues.
According to Cricbuzz, Inglis has entered the ₹2 crore auction bracket but may be available for only four matches next season. Reports suggest he will miss most of the tournament as he is likely to get married during that period.
