IPL 2026 Auction: Nine players dropped, including RCB rejects
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has reportedly removed nine players from the 2026 player auction list, sparking speculation among fans and analysts. The list includes six Indian cricketers and three foreign players, although the reasons behind the decision remain unclear. So let’s know about IPL 2026 auction players removed.
Players removed from the auction
The removed Indian players are Mani Sankar, Mura Singh, Chama Milind, KL Shrijith, Swastik Chikara, Rahul Raj Namala and Virat Singh, each with a base price of ₹30 lakh. The foreign players excluded from the auction include Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh (₹30 lakh), South Africa’s Eathan Bosch and Australia’s Chris Green (₹75 lakh).
Among them, Swastik Chikara became popular after joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season despite not getting any game time. Mura Singh, who hails from Tripura, is known for his aggressive batting, while Virat Singh from Jharkhand has previously represented Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Timeline and auction details
Initially, the IPL submitted a list of 350 players for the auction. On December 9, the names of the nine players were added, bringing the total to 359. However, as revealed by NDTV News18, the names were missing from the amended list released on December 13, raising questions about the IPL’s selection criteria.
The IPL 2026 Player Auction will take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. More than 1,000 players initially registered for the event, but only 350 were shortlisted based on interest from all ten franchise teams.
Franchise Spending and Strategies
Ahead of the auction, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings have the highest remaining purses at ₹64.3 crore and ₹43.4 crore respectively. These franchises are expected to actively bid for key players to strengthen their rosters for the 2026 season.
Uncertainty surrounding deleted players
So far, the IPL has not released an official statement explaining why these nine players have been removed from the auction list. The lack of clarity has led to speculation, especially regarding Swastik Chikara, who was part of the RCB squad in IPL 2025 but did not get game time, and Virat Singh, a former Sunrisers Hyderabad player.
With the auction just days away, fans and pundits will be keeping a close eye on developments to see if these players might be reinstated or permanently banned. The sudden removal adds an unexpected twist to the mini-auction proceedings and heightens curiosity about the strategies franchises in Abu Dhabi could adopt.
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