Options aplenty for franchises as BCCI adds 19 new players to IPL 2026 auction list with just hours remaining for bidding

Just hours before the IPL 2026 mini auction begins in Abu Dhabi, the BCCI announced the inclusion of 19 additional players, raising the total auction pool to 369 participants. These late entries feature a mix of Indian domestic talent and international cricketers, springing a surprise for franchises and offering them fresh options to strengthen their squads.

Among the Indian players, the most notable addition is Abhimanyu Easwaran, the Bengal captain, who has been assigned a base price of ₹30 lakh. Easwaran has consistently performed in domestic cricket and is often regarded as a potential future India international, making him an attractive pick for teams looking to bolster their batting lineup.

Several foreign players have also been added to the list. Kyle Verreynne from South Africa will enter the auction at ₹1.25 crore, while New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears, priced at ₹1.50 crore, emerges as one of the most expensive late entries. Other international names include Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani, South Africa’s Ethan Bosch, and Australia’s Chris Green, all listed at ₹75 lakh. Virandeep Singh from Malaysia joins at a base price of ₹30 lakh.

The remaining additions consist mainly of promising Indian domestic players. These include Manisankar Murasingh (Tripura), Swastik Chikara (Uttar Pradesh), Chama Milind (Hyderabad), K.L. Shrijith (Karnataka), Rahul Raj Namala (Chhattisgarh), Virat Singh (Jharkhand), Tripuresh Singh (Madhya Pradesh), Rajesh Mohanty (Odisha), Swastik Samal (Odisha), Saransh Jain (Madhya Pradesh), Sooraj Sangaraju (Andhra), and Tanmay Agarwal (Hyderabad), each set at a base price of ₹30 lakh.

These late additions expand the talent pool available to franchises, providing teams with more options across batting, bowling, and all-round skills. The mix of domestic and international players ensures that franchises can target emerging talent as well as seasoned performers to create balanced squads. With just hours remaining before the auction kicks off, these new entries are expected to attract considerable attention from franchises aiming to make strategic picks. (With inputs from Agencies)