Gone Under the Hammer: The Top Steals at the IPL 2026 Mini Auction

On 16th December, a total of 369 players had been shortlisted for the IPL 2026 mini auction with only 156 players going under the hammer in Abu Dhabi. With just 77 slots to fill overall, teams came in with set plans and didn’t hesitate to push hard and pay a premium to secure their next franchise player. This was a record-breaking auction as Aussie all-rounder Cameron Green became the highest-paid overseas player in IPL history, joining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for 25.25 Cr. Although marquee bids dominated the headlines, several underrated players flew under the radar, secured at value prices who could create an impact from day one. 

Ever since the conclusion of the auction, every expert and analyst on the block has been diving into each and every buy at the auction and what the playing XI of each team will look like come March 2026. Now, we’re diving into the top 5 value buys or “steals” of the auction.

1. Quinton De Kock ( Rs. 1 crore to MI)

QDK, to everyone’s surprise, found no bidders except one on auction day as his previous team Mumbai Indians picked him up at a base price of 1 crore. Considering MI walked in with a small purse of Rs. 2.75 crores, landing a proven international wicket-keeper opener in Quinton De Kock at that price is a definite win and one of the best value buys of the auction.

Teams hesitated to bid for him due to his poor run of form in the last 3 seasons for LSG (2 seasons) and KKR, with returns of 143, 250 and 152 runs, respectively. In 2 out of the 3 seasons, he averaged under 23 while striking below 135. Even his 2025 season with KKR (152 runs) is heavily skewed by one innings of 97 runs.

Source: The Tribune

De Kock was seen in blazing, hot form in the recently concluded India–South Africa series, where he ended as the 4th highest run scorer for SA in the 3-match ODI series scoring at a high strike rate of 111.8 while picking up a century in the series decider. He continued this form over to the 5-match T20I series, ending the series as the highest run scorer for SA and second highest between both teams, scoring 156 runs in 4 matches with 2 half centuries at a strike rate of 181, only bettered by Hardik Pandya – his MI captain in IPL 2026. These are numbers that signal intent at the opening position.

QDK returning to Mumbai is a clear sign of them attempting to recreate their 2020 championship winning template – a proven left-right combination up top of QDK-Rohit that can win games in the powerplay itself and put opponents on the back foot early on. 

2. Salil Arora (Rs. 1.5 crores to SRH)

Salil Arora, a domestic middle-order wicketkeeper-batsman from Punjab, took the Indian domestic circuit by storm in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) where he smashed 358 runs in 8 matches at a leading average of 71.6 and a blazing strike rate of 198.88, the highest for a batter with 350+ runs in the tournament, along with the highest number of sixes (28) amongst all the players. Having played all his T20 matches for the 2025 season in the SMAT, he ended as the highest run scorer for Punjab, with a season high 39-ball century in a knockout match against Jharkhand. He showcased consistency and reliability as a middle-order batsman while playing an attacking brand of cricket.

Source: News18

Given his recent run with the bat, he was expected to reach high numbers at the auction, and even though he went to SRH for 1.5 crores which puts him on the higher end of bids for uncapped players, it almost feels like a bargain for the skill set he brings to the squad. Experts slammed SRH for overspending on him, but in light of other players like Prashant Veer and Karthik Sharma going for amounts like Rs. 14.2 crores, and the fact that MI were willing to bid for Salil till 1.4 cr, validates his skillset and potential.

If Salil Arora can continue the template he followed in the SMAT, he fits in seamlessly with the all-out attack mindset of the Sunrisers and will most definitely find a spot in the playing XI.

3. Jacob Duffy (Rs. 2 crores to RCB)

Over the last 2 seasons, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been consistently impressive at the auction table – they’ve come in with clarity on what roles they want to fill, while carrying credible backup options. They came into this year's mini auction with the trophy-winning squad and they’ve walked out with an even better squad by addressing all the minute issues they faced last season. 

Being the sole bidder for Jacob Duffy, ranked world number 2 in T20I, they were able to get the Kiwi pacer at base price early on in the auction when teams were seen being cautious and saving money to go after well-established high-return players. For Rs. 2 crore, they’ve added a fast bowling option which gives them consistency and control. Getting Duffy as a backup for the ever economical Josh Hazlewood might just prove to be the winning move of the season. Given the availability issues of Hazlewood, RCB struggled to slot in a dependable overseas bowler in his place, where they tried multiple bowlers in Nuwan Thushara and Lungi Ngidi, which yielded mixed results. 

Source: ESPN

Duffy comes in with 50+ T20I wickets and a low economy of 7.4, proving the fact that he has made a significant impact in his international career as a T20I bowler. The Kiwi has had a career year in 2025, picking 35 wickets across 21 matches at an economy of 7.47. However, in Asia he has yielded below average returns according to his standards – having scalped just 3 wickets in 10 appearances, but he has ensured that runs don’t flow for the opponent when he has the ball, holding them to an economy of 7.18 in sub-continental conditions. That is exactly the kind of plug-and-play fast bowling option a T20 team needs to win games over a long season.

4. Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs. 2 crores to LSG)

Lucknow Supergiants quietly pulled off one of the best buys on auction day by picking up Sri Lankan leggie Wanindu Hasaranga for just Rs. 2 crore – at base price for a proven match winner in the T20 format. Quality wrist spinners who can control the flow of the innings and take timely wickets in the middle overs is a category for which IPL teams tend to overpay, and LSG have managed to get one of the best at just Rs. 2 crore which is a clear steal. 

Source: NDTV Sports

Not too long ago, Hasaranga was a major signing for RCB, who paid Rs. 10.75 crores for him in the 2022 season. He backed up that high paycheck with a dependable performance by scalping 26 wickets at an economy rate of 7.54. Across his IPL career, he has picked up 46 wickets in 37 appearances at an economy of 8.14, which goes to show how effective he can be at controlling the middle overs in the league. 

LSG have addressed exactly what their squad needed after their franchise spinner Ravi Bishnoi was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals. They were on the look-out for a wrist spinner who can pick wickets in the middle overs and force the opposition to make mistakes. Hasaranga is not a one-dimensional bowler where he just controls the middle overs, he’s an attacking leggie with a deceptive googly, the exact profile LSG want in order to create chaos in the middle. 

5. David Miller (Rs. 2 crores to DC)

Delhi Capitals started off their auction by getting one of the best value buys of the day – David Miller at a base price of Rs. 2 crore, and notably, the first buy of the auction. In a mini auction where teams were happy to overspend on youngsters who could carry their franchise forward, Delhi quietly landed one of the best match winners in modern-day limited overs cricket at the lowest possible price in his bracket.

It’s not just the price tag which makes this move look like a steal, rather it’s Miller’s profile. Miller is one of the most reliable match winners and pure finishers in T20 cricket, especially in the IPL. Across 14 seasons and 4 teams in the IPL, Miller has amassed 3,077 runs in 135 matches at an average of 35.77 and a strike rate of 138+. This goes to show that he is not just a “blind slogger” or power hitter, but is a reliable middle-order batsman who has the ability to stabilise an innings after a collapse and guide his team to victory with a calm approach. For a team like Delhi, where the top order has done most of the heavy lifting while the lower order fails to provide the final push towards the end of the innings, Miller is a sure-shot positive addition, that too at just Rs. 2 crores.

Source: News18

Teams were hesitant to bid for Miller due to age-related reasons (now 36 years old), along with the fact that teams now prefer multi-dimensional players who contribute in multiple facets of the game, rather than a pure finisher. However, Delhi is paying for a defined role that helps close out games.

While marquee signings grabbed the spotlight at the auction, it's these top value buys that could really shape how the 2026 season goes for these teams. From proven international match winners to domestic players waiting to be given a chance at the big stage, these 5 players offer maximum upside at minimal risk. If utilised correctly and effectively, they can easily outperform their price tag and transform their teams into serious contenders come playoff time.