The IPL 2026 auction is less than a week away. The highly anticipated event will take place on December 16 in the United Arab Emirates. This year, 359 players will compete in the auction.
While over 1,300 players initially registered for the auction, 359 players were ultimately shortlisted. A maximum of 77 players, including 31 foreign players, can be bought in the IPL auction this year. As the IPL auction approaches, we take a look at why the IPL auction is no longer fair for young talents.
Also Read: IPL 2026 Auction: Domestic Performers Who Deserve ₹5+ Crore Bids
Your daily dose of cricket!
Why IPL auctions are no longer fair for young talents?
Teams looking for established names:
There is no denying that the IPL is not a tournament where teams would like to develop their talents. Teams pay large sums of money to sign players and would like to get an instant result for their investment. Unsurprisingly, teams prefer to focus on experienced players and avoid young names. Auctions generally reward past performance and make things even more difficult for young people.
Inconsistent screening and testing:
Some IPL teams are really famous for their recognition system. The rise of players like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah is largely a result of Mumbai Indians’ good scouting system. Interestingly, Mumbai Indians managed to buy both players cheaply. However, not all IPL teams have such a good scouting system and young players usually fail to get noticed. Even if they get noticed by one or two teams, it’s unlikely they’ll win big at the auction.
No hype for young players:
Unless young players produce something truly exceptional, there is no real hype around them. And we have seen that IPL auctions are driven by perception over the years. Even Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who took the IPL by storm last year, did not cause a bidding war in the IPL auction. So, to land a lucrative contract in the IPL auction, young players need to create a certain amount of hype with their performances.
