Ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026 auction, former Indian player and current commentator Aakash Chopra has now named five players who could command the highest bids during the mini auction. Some of these players have good IPL records, while others have previously disappointed.

Picking the African player at No. 5, Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “The South Africa series is underway, so there’s bound to be some novelty. I’ve placed Mathisha Pathirana, David Miller, and Anrich Nortje at No. 5. If Nortje and Miller perform well against India, they’ll command a lot of money. There should be a lot of interest in Michael Bracewell, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. CSK needs an off-spinner who also bats well. So, CSK should consider him. Ricky Ponting now has a vacant overseas slot, so Connolly is an option there.”

Speaking about Liam Livingstone, Aakash Chopra said, “Livingstone hasn’t performed well, whether it’s with Punjab or RCB, his performances haven’t been up to expectations. However, it’s all about supply and demand now; there aren’t any explosive middle-order players, not even Maxi (Maxwell) around. Therefore, I think Livingstone will make money this time around.”

Watch the video

In his video, Aakash Chopra listed Jonny Bairstow at No. 2, while Cameron Green was listed at No. 1. Regarding Green, Aakash Chopra said, “Cameron Green will be No. 1, and no one is even close. Regardless of the final price, he will receive a maximum of INR 18 crore, but there could be a bidding war and a fair bid. KKR will be the second team to come in ahead of CSK; in fact, they could be bidding for him in the range of 25 to 28 crore.”