New Delhi: A total of 45 players have opted for the highest bracket, keeping their base price at Rs 2 crore for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, which is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16. The list of 45 players, who have opted for the highest base price of Rs 2 crore, included only two Indians – Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer.

Venkatesh Iyer was the third most expensive signing in the IPL 2025 mega auction last year after he was bought for a huge sum of Rs 23.50 crore by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, the three-time champions released the Indian all-rounder after his dismal show in IPL 2025.

Bishnoi was retained by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ahead of the IPL mega auction last year, but was released by the franchise after his poor returns with the ball. Several other players, who were released by their respective franchises this year, have opted for the highest bracket of Rs 2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green is among the 45 players who have registered at the highest base price of Rs 2 crore. Green is one of the most sought-after players ahead of the auction and is a strong contender to become the most expensive pick, with the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) expected to go after him.

KKR will enter the auction with the biggest purse of Rs 64.3 crore, while CSK will have the second-biggest purse of Rs 43.4 crore. Both teams are likely to target an overseas all-rounder and Green might be high on their priority list. The two franchises are also expected to target some other prominent names and talented Indian youngsters at the auction.

Apart from Green, Pathirana and Iyer, the likes of Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Rachin Ravindra, Liam Livingstone, Jake Frader-McGurk, Daryll Mitchell, David Miller and Jamie Smith have also registered at the highest base price of Rs 4 crore. Inglis will be available for only 25% of the IPL 2026 season, but has still opted for the highest price bracket at the upcoming auction.

Complete list of players listed at base price of Rs 2 crore in IPL 2026 auction:

Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Naveen ul Haq, Sean Abott, Ashton Agar, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Mustafizur Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Liam Livingstone, Tymal Mills, Jamie Smith, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Daryll Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Rachin Ravindra, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mateesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Gerald Coetzee, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Rilee Roussouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Wiese

Remaining purse of all 10 teams for IPL 2026 auction:

The ten IPL franchises will head into the IPL 2026 auction with an overall purse of Rs 237.55 crore with 77 slots to fill, including 31 overseas players. Each team is allowed to have a maximum of 25 players in their squad. Though 1,355 players have registered for the auction, the list will be trimmed by the IPL Governing Council after they receive the wishlist from all ten franchises.

Kolkata Knight Riders – Rs 64.30 crore

Chennai Super Kings – Rs 43.40 crore

Sunrisers Hyderabad – Rs 25.50 crore

Lucknow Super Giants – Rs 22.95 crore

Delhi Capitals – Rs 21.80 crore

Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Rs 16.40 crore

Rajasthan Royals – Rs 16.50 crore

Punjab Kings – Rs 11.50 crore

Gujarat Titans – Rs 12.90 crore

Mumbai Indians – Rs 2.75 crore