The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sprung a late surprise ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2026 mini-auction. Overnight, the organisers decided to expand the initial player pool by adding 19 new names to the existing shortlist of 350 cricketers. This one-day auction event is scheduled for Tuesday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Overnight Additions Shake Up Auction Dynamics
This marks the third adjustment made by the IPL governing council in the lead-up to the auction within a single week. The core purpose of the auction remains to fill the 77 vacant slots across the ten franchises competing in the world's richest cricket league. Interestingly, this is not the first time names have been tweaked; earlier, nine players, including Tripura's Manisankar Murasingh and South Africa's Eathan Bosch, were added and then temporarily removed before being reinstated along with the latest batch in a move approved by the BCCI.
Prominent Indian and International Names Enter the Fray
Among the most notable inclusions in this fresh list is Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran. Primarily known for his solid technique in the longer format, which has earned him call-ups to the Indian Test squad, Easwaran has now been recognized for his explosive performances in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, showcasing his evolved T20 batting prowess.
The updated roster also features six overseas players, adding more international flavour to the auction. The list includes:
- Eathan Bosch (South Africa) - Base Price: Rs 75 lakh
- Virandeep Singh (Malaysia) - Base Price: Rs 30 lakh
- Chris Green (Australia) - Base Price: Rs 75 lakh
- Kyle Verreynne (South Africa) - Base Price: Rs 1.25 crore
- Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) - Base Price: Rs 75 lakh
- Ben Sears (New Zealand) - Base Price: Rs 1.50 crore
The inclusion of Malaysian batter Virandeep Singh is a particularly interesting development, highlighting the IPL's expanding global scouting network.
Complete List of the 19 Players Added
Here is the full list of the 19 cricketers who have been added to the IPL 2026 auction shortlist, along with their base prices:
- Manisankar Murasingh (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Swastik Chikara (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Eathan Bosch (Rs. 75 lakh)
- Virandeep Singh (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Chama Milind (Rs. 30 lakh)
- K.L. Shrijith (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Rahul Raj Namala (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Chris Green (Rs. 75 lakh)
- Virat Singh (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Abhimanyu Easwaran (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Tripuresh Singh (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Kyle Verreynne (Rs. 1.25 crore)
- Blessing Muzarabani (Rs. 75 lakh)
- Ben Sears (Rs. 1.50 crore)
- Rajesh Mohanty (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Swastik Samal (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Saransh Jain (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Sooraj Sangaraju (Rs. 30 lakh)
- Tanmay Agarwal (Rs. 30 lakh)
What This Means for Franchises and Fans
These last-minute additions introduce new variables and potential bargains for the team think-tanks. Franchise scouts will be burning the midnight oil to reassess their strategies, especially for players like Easwaran, who offers a unique skill set, and the cluster of overseas talent. For fans, this move ensures the auction in Abu Dhabi remains unpredictable and packed with fresh narratives, from the journey of a Malaysian cricketer to the T20 reinvention of a domestic Indian stalwart. All eyes will now be on how the ten teams navigate this expanded pool to build their squads for the IPL 2026 season.
