5 Uncapped Indians Who Could Surprise at IPL 2026 Auction
The IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi is just days away. The Indian Premier League board had initially released a list of 1355 players. After receiving the preference list from all 10 franchises, the final list has been cut down. Out of the total 350 players, 240 are Indians and 100 players are from overseas.
Fans are eager to see how teams build their squads from a pool of 350 players. Only 77 slots are available across all the 10 franchises. Teams will head into the auction with a combined purse of ₹237.50 crore.
With limited budgets and several gaps to fill, uncapped Indian players are expected to attract strong interest. These players would come at a budget price. If given the chance and they excel, they could become long-term prospects.
History shows that franchises often use the mini-auction to back domestic performers who are match-ready. A number of uncapped Indian cricketers are touted as ‘potential headline-makers’ for the upcoming IPL 2026 mini auction, thanks to their exceptional performances in the domestic circuit.
Let’s take a look at 5 uncapped Indian players who could draw attention at the IPL 2026 auction.
Auqib Nabi (registered as Auqib Dar for IPL 2026)
Age: 29
Role: Right-arm fast bowler
Auqib Nabi has quietly built his reputation in domestic cricket. A swing bowler by trade, the Jammu and Kashmir pacer has added sharper death-over skills in recent seasons, which has boosted his value, especially in IPL 2026 auction.
His Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy numbers showcase his growth. Nabi picked up 15 wickets in 7 matches at an economy rate of 7.41. That followed a standout start to the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, where he emerged as the only seamer among the top five wicket-takers in the first half of the season. He claimed 29 wickets in 9 innings, including three 5-wicket hauls. One of those spells was a stunning 7 for 24 against Rajasthan, which helped Jammu and Kashmir seal a knockout berth.
Nabi’s form also carried over from the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, where he finished with 44 wickets at an average of 13.93. He has previously been a net bowler with Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, adding to his visibility ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
Jammu and Kashmir players have fared well in the IPL in recent years. Umran Malik has shown what raw pace can do. Abdul Samad, Rasikh Salam and Yudhvir Singh have seen intermittent IPL success. Who knows, Auqib Nabi could be next.
Prashant Veer
Age: 20
Role: Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder
Prashant Veer’s rise has been swift. He first caught attention in the UP T20 League while playing for Noida Super Kings. In the 2025 season, the left-hander scored 320 runs at a strike rate of 155.34 and scored 3 fifties.
He carried that momentum into the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In 6 matches across SMAT and Uttar Pradesh Under-23 fixtures within a week, Veer scored 112 runs at a strike rate of 170. He also picked up 9 wickets at an economy of 6.76. In a group game against Jammu and Kashmir on November 28, he smashed 37 off just 10 balls at the death and later returned figures of 3 for 20.
Chennai Super Kings have already taken a closer look at Veer during trials as they search for long-term spin-all-rounder to replace Ravindra Jadeja who was traded to RR. His dual skillset could make him a valuable pick at the IPL 2026 auction.
Ashok Sharma
Age: 23
Role: Right-arm fast bowler
Ashok Sharma’s journey stands out for its resilience. In 2021, he briefly stepped away from cricket to pursue a degree and a government job to support his family’s farming business. He has rebuilt his career with impressive results from there onwards.
The Rajasthan pacer regularly touches the high-140s and bowls a heavy ball. While he struggled with consistency early on, his control has improved significantly over the past two seasons. At the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Ashok finished as the leading wicket-taker in the group stage. He claimed 19 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 12.10 and an economy of 8.84.
Ashok has been part of IPL squads before. Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for ₹55 lakh in 2023, while Rajasthan Royals picked him for ₹30 lakh ahead of IPL 2025.
He spent the season with RR but did not get a game and was released before the IPL 2026 auction.
Krains Fuletra
Age: 21
Role: Slow left-arm orthodox
Left-arm wrist-spin options are rare, which makes Krains Fuletra an intriguing prospect. Despite very limited senior exposure of just 2 T20 matches for Saurashtra, he has already started turning heads. He was first spotted by Jaydev Unadkat and brought in as a net bowler in Rajkot. Fuletra was fast-tracked into the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad during the 2024-25 season where he debuted against Karnataka.
Fuletra took 10 wickets in 9 matches for Anmol Kings Halar in the recent Saurashtra Pro T20 League, where he won the Emerging Player award. Sunrisers Hyderabad picked him as a net bowler in 2025 on Unadkat’s recommendation. A potential replacement move (in place of Adam Zampa) did not materialise only because he had not registered for the previous auction. With at least two franchises monitoring him closely, Fuletra could become a surprise name at the IPL 2026 auction.
Kartik Sharma
Age: 19
Role: Right-handed middle order, wicketkeeper-batter
Kartik Sharma has emerged as one of the most exciting young hitters in domestic cricket. A clean striker and a natural finisher, he has drawn attention for his ability to clear the ropes with ease. Kartik has been signed up by JSW which manages several other cricketers like Axar Patel, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Suryansh Shedge, Vicky Ostwal.
In 12 T20 matches, Kartik has scored 334 runs at a strike rate of 164, hitting 28 sixes. He announced himself with a century on Ranji Trophy debut against Uttarakhand and later topped Rajasthan’s batting charts in the previous Vijay Hazare Trophy. He scored 445 runs in 8 innings in that tournament.
Across two Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy seasons, Kartik has 334 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 162.92. He also impressed in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League in 2024, scoring 457 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 168.01.
IPL 2026 Auction Details
Here’s the full trade and retention list announced by teams ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.
The IPL 2026 auction will start at 2:30 PM IST (1 PM UAE time) on December 16, 2025. It will be streamed LIVE on JioHotstar and broadcasted LIVE on Star Sports in India.