All 10 teams have retained a total of 173 players for IPL 2026. All eyes will now be on the auction, which is scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16th. A maximum of 77 players will be available for sale at the auction, as only that many slots remain after retention, while the teams’ total purse is INR 237.55 crore.
This means players are sure to be showered with money at the auction, but the form and lackluster performances of some veterans could also lead to their unsold sale. So, here’s a list of players who may remain unsold in the IPL 2026 Mini Auction.
This 5 players can go unsold in IPL 2026 mini auction:
Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell, a player who scored a double century in the World Cup despite suffering a leg injury, has only managed to score 100 runs in 17 matches in the last two seasons. In IPL 2025, he scored just 48 runs in seven matches for the Punjab Kings.
Vijay Shankar
CSK showed confidence in Vijay Shankar by purchasing him for ₹1.2 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. However, he scored just 118 runs in six matches that season, with a strike rate of 129.67. On the other hand, his bowling was negligible. Shankar’s slow approach may lead to him going unsold in the auction.
Faf du Plessis
When RCB released Faf du Plessis before the mega auction, it was a surprising decision. Under his captaincy, RCB reached the playoffs in the 2024 season, and he personally scored 438 runs. However, last season, he managed just 202 runs for the Delhi Capitals. Along with his poor performance, his age is also increasing. The IPL has always been a unique blend of youthful enthusiasm and excitement, so it may not be surprising that the 41-year-old Faf du Plessis went unsold in the mini auction.
Mohit Sharma
Mohit Sharma returned to Delhi Capitals after five years. Perhaps even he couldn’t have imagined that he would only take two wickets in eight matches throughout the season. Mohit’s performance has steadily declined since 2023. He hasn’t played any domestic matches since IPL 2025. These two factors could be the reason he goes unsold.
