The IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi on 16 December 2025 saw 77 players sold out of 369 shortlisted. That means 292 players went unsold — including some high-profile international names who were expected to attract big bids but failed to find takers.
Why Do Players Go Unsold at IPL Auctions?
Players go unsold for various reasons — age, recent form, injury history, oversupply of similar profiles, or franchises having already filled their overseas slots. IPL 2026 saw a particularly strong batch of overseas seamers and explosive batters, which meant some established names found themselves unexpectedly without a franchise.
High-Profile Unsold Players at IPL 2026 Auction
Jake Fraser-McGurk (Australia)
The young Australian opener was one of the biggest surprises among the unsold players. Fraser-McGurk is one of the most explosive powerplay batters in world cricket and was expected to attract significant bids. Oversaturation in the opening batter category and franchise budget constraints are believed to have contributed to his unsold status.
Jonny Bairstow (England)
The veteran English wicketkeeper-batter went unsold at IPL 2026. After his return from injury, Bairstow’s T20 form had been inconsistent and franchises were cautious about investing in a player approaching the end of his career.
Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
The New Zealand middle-order batter has been outstanding in all formats of the game but went unsold at IPL 2026. His lack of a well-defined T20 specialist role in terms of bowling likely limited franchise interest.
Devon Conway (New Zealand)
The technically excellent left-hander and wicketkeeper Devon Conway went unsold. Despite consistently impressive performances for CSK in previous seasons, he was unable to find a buyer at the 2026 auction.
Alzarri Joseph (West Indies)
The express West Indian fast bowler went unsold despite being among the most potent new-ball operators in the world. An exceptionally strong pool of overseas pace options available in the 2026 auction left franchises prioritising other targets over Joseph.
Gus Atkinson (England)
England’s rising Test star Gus Atkinson went unsold at IPL 2026. His Test form has been outstanding, but IPL franchises appeared uncertain about his T20 specific value and death bowling skills.
Deepak Hooda (India)
The experienced Indian all-rounder Deepak Hooda went unsold, reflecting the fierce competition among domestic Indian all-rounders for limited spots in IPL squads.
Karn Sharma (India)
Veteran Indian leg-spinner Karn Sharma, released by Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction, went unsold as franchises prioritised younger spin options.
What Happens to Unsold Players?
Unsold players are not completely locked out of IPL 2026. Teams can sign unsold players as replacements if a squad member is injured or unavailable during the season. Players can also be added during the mid-season transfer window if it is introduced. For most unsold players, the goal will be strong domestic performances to earn an IPL call-up in 2027.