The IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi proved to be a watershed event for Uttar Pradesh, whose meteoric rise in Indian domestic cricket ended in a whopping INR 14.20 crore transfer to five-time champions Chennai Super Kings. While some prominent names, including Cameron Green, drew high bids, it was the uncapped adolescent who broke the INR 10 crore barrier that truly astonished the auction chamber.
Veer was with his Uttar Pradesh teammates when the auction took place, among whom is Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) player Rinku Singh. Group members were watching the live auction on their mobiles as Veer, Rinku’s handle and others’ price just started jumping out of control which had them savouring the moment with every additional bid.
The 19-year-old a left-arm spinner who bats left-handed, was listed at a base price of INR 30 lakh in the auction. His price rose dramatically as part of an early bidding war between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI). When the bid touched INR 1.20 crore, CSK jumped into the act, showing genuine interest to get a young all-rounder in their kitty.
What ensued was a fierce battle between the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Veer’s valuation increased at each rise, far beyond expectations. SRH thought to have secured the deal with a bid of INR 14 crore, but CSK remained steadfast, returning with a final price of INR 14.20 crore to sign the uncapped player.
A video of the incident quickly went viral on social media, capturing Veer seated on a bus with Rinku and other teammates. Veer appeared visibly overwhelmed and thrilled as the bids rose swiftly. Rinku Singh smiled and inquired how he was feeling, to which Veer replied with a simple but passionate ‘Maza aa raha hai bhaiya’.
Veer’s numbers are enough to justify the frenzy from franchises. In nine domestic T20 games, he has averaged 112 runs at 167.16 and picked up 12 wickets. He is a valuable addition in the shortest format by virtue of being both a left-arm spinner and power-hitting lower-order batsman.
CSK are apparently considering Veer as a long-term replacement to Ravindra Jadeja, which aligns with the franchise’s increasing emphasis on young development. Veer now has an excellent opportunity to perfect his talents and establish himself on the largest platform in Indian cricket, thanks to MS Dhoni’s tutelage.
