The IPL 2026 auction was building up to its climax, when on Monday, the mock auction held by Star Sports was the event that got all the action going with the intense bidding, and the surprising team strategies that came up before the actual event in Abu Dhabi.
On the day of the auction, Cameron Green, the Australian all-rounder, was the major newsmaker and the demand for his services was very high. The Kolkata Knight Riders, after a bidding war with the Chennai Super Kings, decided to go all out for the player and paid a record ₹30.50 crores, thus making him the most costly player in the mock auction. This amount paid was a clear indication of the fact that Green, possessing the superb all-rounder abilities, can change the game’s fate with either bat or ball.
The Chennai Super Kings were not fortunate enough to have Green but didn’t let the five-time champions share their bold step with the crowd. CSK gambled with a signing of Indian batsman Sarfaraz Khan for ₹7 crore, and this move brought about a split in the opinions of both the fans and the analysts. It seemed like a signal that CSK would keep on showing their faith in Indian batting talents and thus would continue building their squad for the long term.
During the mock auction, the Delhi Capitals as well were very much present and made huge investments in the areas of experience and firepower. The franchise of the Delhi Capitals spent a total of ₹12.25 crores on acquiring players such as David Miller and Prithvi Shaw, thus increasing the strength of their middle-order and the depth of their top-order, respectively.
The mock auction saw a total of 30 players — comprising 21 capped and 9 uncapped cricketers — being sold. Although it was just a simulation, the exercise gave great insight into the team’s strategies, player demands, and the intensity of the bidding that is expected at the official IPL 2026 auction.
If the mock auction is taken as a measure of what to expect, then the fans can be certain of nothing less than record bids, surprise buys, and high-voltage drama when the real auction takes place.
