IPL Auction 2026: Five bowlers who could be surprise big buys

The IPL 2026 auction will be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, with 10 franchises competing for 77 available slots. With squads capped at 25 players, the auction is set to spark aggressive bidding for specialised T20 roles, especially with franchises looking to get quality bowlers into their squads.

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Who are the bowlers expected to get big bids in IPL 2026 Auction?

Auqib Nabi

The Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler is the talk of the town after a terrific start to the 2025-26 domestic season. In the recently held Duleep Trophy, Nabi picked four wickets in four balls against East Zone. In the first leg of the Ranji Trophy, Nabi has already picked 29 wickets in five games. The 29-year-old carried his form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he claimed 15 wickets in seven games.

Matheesha Pathirana

The Sri Lankan quick is known for his slingy action and already has four years of IPL experience playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Owing to injury concerns, he was released by CSK ahead of the auction and would be in demand amongst franchises looking for a quick overseas bowler. Pathirana has taken 47 wickets in 32 matches in the IPL and bowls at an economy rate of over 8.

Jacob Duffy

The New Zealand fast bowler is currently ranked second in the ICC T20I bowling rankings. Duffy has had a terrific 2025, picking 29 wickets in 16 matches with best bowling figures of four for 14 against Pakistan. He has featured in the T20 Blast and The Hundred but is yet to play in the IPL.

Ashok Sharma

A right-arm pacer from Rajasthan, Ashok has also grabbed headlines after his exploits in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26, where he picked 19 wickets in seven league games. Ashok clocked good speeds and showcased pinpoint accuracy during the tournament. He was first picked by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2022 and was with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2025. However, he is yet to make his IPL debut.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

The 24-year-old is known for his ‘mystery’ spin and already has a 20-match experience playing in the IPL, where he has taken 20 wickets at an economy of 8.34. Hailing from Afghanistan, Mujeeb has played in leagues across continents and also features for his national team. With teams looking to build spin depth, Mujeeb could find himself in a bidding war.

Published on Dec 14, 2025