IPL Auction 2026 Live Updates: After Rs 25.2 crore splurge on Cameron Green, KKR land Matheesha Pathirana for Rs 18 crore
IPL 2026 Player Auction Live Updates: Irfan Pathan opens up on Matheesha Pathirana ahead of the mini auction
The IPL 2026 mini-auction is approaching, with franchises preparing to enhance their teams through a combination of established and emerging players.
The auction is scheduled for Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, featuring a final list of 350 players, comprising 240 Indian and 110 overseas cricketers.
“Look, if you talk about international fast bowlers, I think Matheesha Pathirana will still be a hot pick because of the skill level he brings, even though he’s had some fitness issues and an off year. Gerald Coetzee is another interesting name — not just for his bowling, but he can also bat down at No. 8, which adds balance. And then there’s Ashok Sharma, whose speed and ability to hit the stumps make him one to watch. These three are the ones I think will be hot picks in the auction,” Irfan Pathan said on JioStar.
Mohammad Kaif, another former Indian cricketer, shared insights about Cameron Green’s potential selection.
“He’ll go to KKR because their plan is to dominate the auction. They released so many players to free up money. With Cameron Green available, I think KKR will go all out — money will dominate their bid, and they need a replacement for Russell, so he’s the best fit,” Kaif said.
Kolkata Knight Riders has retained 12 players, including two overseas players, with a total spend of Rs 60.70 crores.
The team has Rs 64.30 crores remaining in their budget cap.
The retained players for KKR include Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
