A total of 359 players will go under the hammer in the IPL 2026 auction, which is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 17. 77 slots are available, and many high-profile players have registered themselves for the auction. But despite being high-profile players, there are few who are unlikely to find a buyer in the IPL 2026 auction. Here’s a look at 10 star players who will most likely remain unsold in the IPL 2026 auction.
STEVE SMITH (Australia): Steve Smith has registered himself for the IPL 2026 auction at a base price of Rs 2 crore. The former RR skipper last played IPL in 2021 for Delhi Capitals and is unlikely to find a buyer in this year’s auction as well. (Picture Credit: PTI)
CHARITH ASALANKA (Mumbai Indians): Sri Lanka’s T20I captain Charith Asalanka was signed as a replacement player for the IPL 2025 playoffs by MI, but he didn’t get a chance to play. This year he has registered himself at a base price of Rs 1 crore but is expected to remain unsold. (Picture Credit: PTI)
DEVON CONWAY (New Zealand): CSK signed New Zealand top-order batter Devon Conway in the mega auction last year for more than Rs 6 crore, but he failed to deliver. He was released by CSK ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. He has lost his place in NZ’s team as well due to form and is unlikely to be picked by any team in the auction. (Picture Credit: PTI)
JOSH INGLIS (Australia): Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is reportedly available for only four matches in IPL 2026, which is why any team is unlikely to sign him in the auction. (Picture Credit: AFP)
PATHUM NISSANKA (Sri Lanka): Pathum Nissanka is Sri Lanka’s highest run getter in T20Is, and he impressed with his batting in the Asia Cup 2025. He has never played in the IPL, and teams usually don’t sign SL batters in the auction, which is why there are not high chances of his selection either. (Picture Credit: PTI)
UMESH YADAV (India): Umesh Yadav is one of the most experienced Indian pacers in the IPL, but due to his age, he will hardly be on the wishlist of any franchise. (Picture Credit: PTI)
DARYL MITCHELL (New Zealand): New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell played for CSK in IPL 2024 but failed to impress, and as a result, he didn’t find a buyer in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He has registered himself for the IPL 2026 auction but is expected to remain unsold. (Picture Credit: PTI)
SARFARAZ KHAN (India): Sarfaraz Khan played for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2023 but remained unsold last year. He has done well for Mumbai in the recent SMAT matches, but despite that, there are not many chances of him finding a buyer in the IPL 2026 auction. (Picture Credit: PTI)
JASON HOLDER (West Indies): Holder has played for multiple IPL teams in the past, but he failed to find a buyer in the mega auction last year. The star all-rounder is not a regular member of the WI T20I side, and his performances in the global T20 league are also not that great. (Picture Credit: PTI)
MAYANK AGARWAL (India): After remaining unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, Mayank Agarwal joined RCB as an injury replacement but failed to do much with the bat, which is why he was released by the Bengaluru-based franchise. (Picture Credit: PTI)