IPL 2026 auction: From Prithvi Shaw to Sarfaraz Khan, list of most valuable buys

The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) auction concluded with several teams bagging steal deals in the event in Abu Dhabi. While there were quite a number of players who went unsold among the 350 players who were set to go under the hammer on Tuesday, there were many who became valuable buys for their respective franchises – moves that were smartly executed by the teams at the auction table. From Sarfaraz Khan to David Miller, let’s take a look at at the most valuable buys in the IPL 2026 auction.

Most valuable buys in IPL 2026 auction

1. Quinton de Kock

The South African keeper-batter was included in the IPL 2026 auction list in the last minute following his performances in the IND vs SA series in the white-ball formats. de Kock was bought by MI for just Rs 1 crore in the mini-auction, a steal deal for the five-time champions. Quinton will not only act as an alternative keeping option for MI apart from Ryan Rickleton but also has the experience of opening with Rohit Sharma in the past.

2. Sarfaraz Khan

The Mumbai batter, who has been in red-hot form off late, was sold to CSK for just Rs 75 lakh. Despite having good numbers in domestic red-ball cricket, Sarfaraz found no takers in the IPL over the last two years. However, his maiden T20 hundred followed by a 18-ball and a 15-ball fifty in the ongoing SMAT tournament has earned him a contract with CSK. Sarfaraz could very well turn out to be the perfect middle-order batter that CSK might need, and a batter who can be flexible in terms of his batting position.

3. Prithvi Shaw

Despite Shaw getting a few noteworthy performances under his belt in the ongoing domestic season, it took three rounds of the IPl 2026 auction for him to find a side. Eventually, he was sold for Rs 75 lakh to his former team Delhi Capitals (DC) in the third round. He has played 79 IPL matches so far, scoring almost 1900 runs at an average of 24, scoring 14 fifties. It is important to note that that Prithvi Shaw has already played 7 seasons of the league with DC, but could not impress the team management with his redemption. Finally, DC decided to invest in Shaw, procuring him for his base price.

4. David Miller

Delhi Capitals managed to get a steal deal by bagging Killer Miller for just Rs 2 crore. The South African finisher was released by LSG after a sub-par season in IPL 2025. However, Miller has earned the reputation of being a destructive finisher in the IPL in the past and still has the potential to pile up misery on other teams.

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