IPL Auction: Uncapped domestic cricketers spring a surprise

A limited supply of proven, match-winning overseas options and the growing fearlessness of India’s next generation combined to produce one of the standout narratives of the Indian Premier League (IPL) players auction on Tuesday: nine domestic uncapped players breaking into the crorepati club, with three more fetching bids in excess of Rs. 90 lakh.

While the scale of the spending may have surprised viewers and fans, it was far less unexpected inside the auction room, where franchises have been closely tracking the rapid evolution of India’s T20 talent pool.

“I just wonder if we are now seeing the true product of T20 cricket coming to the fore,” said Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming. “It certainly started last year, maybe even the year before. Earlier, my view was that experience would win. But now you’re seeing fearless athletes who’ve grown up on T20 cricket and possess a skill set that is mouth-watering.”

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Fleming believed the defining trait of the new generation is the absence of fear. “They have no concern about the environment in which they need to express their skills. That’s something we have to acknowledge — the T20 babies are coming through. Sometimes experienced players can get caught trying to read the game too much. These young players only know one way, and that freedom has real appeal, especially as the game gets faster and faster. It’s a natural by-product of T20 being around for a long time now.”

CSK was at the forefront of this shift. A franchise once labelled ‘Dad’s Army’ for its reliance on experience, CSK made a clear statement by investing ₹14.20 crore each in rookies Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer — two of the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history.

Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani, whose franchise went all out to sign Jammu and Kashmir medium-pacer Auqib Nabi, echoed Fleming’s views, stressing that demand for domestic talent continues to rise.

“Only when someone has to bring it against you do they go that high,” Badani said. “That tells you the kid has something in him — like a Prashant Veer or a Kartik Sharma. There’s a reason franchises are willing to go to ₹12 or ₹14 crore. One player doesn’t go that far on his own. It reflects a bigger picture — a lot of young boys are coming through.”

The auction, in that sense, may have offered a glimpse into the future of the IPL.

Just like mutual funds investments are subject to market risks, the auction valuations also have a rider: a player’s auction price does not necessarily reflect his worth on the field.

With a sharp surge in uncapped domestic cricketers’ earnings during Tuesday’s auction, Akash Ambani also offered a word of caution to the youngsters.

“Generally very, very happy for the uncapped players. They should remember that the auction is a place of demand and supply and not wear the price on the head because it’s about when your name comes up and what slots are teams looking to fill,” Ambani said.

“So from that perspective, I really wish them all the best. They are extremely talented players, all of the ones that went above generally average prices of uncapped players over the years.It’s just a demand-supply and the timing, situation of the auction.”

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Shashwat Goenka, the Lucknow Super Giants owner, stated the uncapped players’ salary reflects the growth of the IPL. “One of the key founding principles of the IPL was to grow domestically. I think the IPL has come a long way in furthering that cause,” he said.

It also means that the franchisees will have to be extra-vigilant to ensure the price-tag pressure does not affect young Indian talent. “Whenever you can get a strong core of local players, the team is in good shape. Sometimes you have to invest time in that and also money because what is happening is the scouting on numerous tournaments around India is becoming very important,” Fleming said.

“So players are being watched and being studied and being bought with a view to performing the way they are performing now, but also another eye on the future. The fact that it can be life-changing is a really rewarding aspect for doing something that they love. But first and foremost, they are bought with their skills. That’s what they have been identified as doing, which is a celebration for them and their family.”

Published on Dec 16, 2025