IPL 2026 Teams - Full Squad, Team Composition After the Mini-Auction
The landscape of the IPL 2026 teams has been completely rewritten following a seismic trade window and a record-shattering mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. With Cameron Green becoming the most expensive overseas player in history and Rishabh Pant commanding a staggering ₹27 crore retention, the financial stakes have reached an all-time high. Every franchise has pivoted its strategy, with some like the Chennai Super Kings doubling down on “Gen Z” talent, while others like Kolkata Knight Riders have built a “Pace & Power” juggernaut designed to dominate the 84-match season.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Chennai Super Kings enter IPL 2026 with a balanced mix of experienced core players and exciting young talent. Led by Ruturaj Gaikwad and bolstered by MS Dhoni and Sanju Samson (traded in), CSK retained a strong batting spine and added depth at crucial positions. The auction buys of Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for big money underline CSK’s focus on youthful all-round options, while spinners and seamers like Akeal Hosein and Matt Henry strengthen bowling balance.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) Full Squad 2026
Ruturaj Gaikwad (C)
₹18 Cr
Sanju Samson
₹18 Cr
Shivam Dube
₹12 Cr
Noor Ahmad
₹10 Cr
Khaleel Ahmed
₹4.8 Cr
MS Dhoni
₹4 Cr
Prashant Veer
₹14.2 Cr
Kartik Sharma
₹14.2 Cr
Rahul Chahar
₹5.2 Cr
Anshul Kamboj
₹3.4 Cr
Dewald Brevis
₹2.2 Cr
Matt Henry
₹2 Cr
Akeal Hosein
₹2 Cr
Nathan Ellis
₹2 Cr
Jamie Overton
₹1.5 Cr
Matthew Short
₹1.5 Cr
Zakary Foulkes
₹0.75 Cr
Gurjapneet Singh
₹2.2 Cr
Sarfaraz Khan
₹0.75 Cr
Aman Khan
₹0.40 Cr
Mukesh Choudhary
₹0.30 Cr
Ramakrishna Ghosh
₹0.30 Cr
Shreyas Gopal
₹0.30 Cr
Ayush Mhatre
₹0.30 Cr
Urvil Patel
₹0.30 Cr
The “Uncapped Crorepatis”: CSK’s Historic Gamble: The Abu Dhabi auction will be remembered for the moment Chennai Super Kings (CSK) shattered the record for the most expensive uncapped players in IPL history. Not once, but twice:
Prashant Veer (₹14.20 Cr): The 20-year-old left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh was the first to cross the mark. Often compared to Ravindra Jadeja, Veer is expected to fill the tactical void left by the veteran’s trade to RR.
Kartik Sharma (₹14.20 Cr): Minutes later, CSK matched their own record for this 19-year-old Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batter. With a domestic strike rate of 164 and 28 sixes in just 12 games, Sharma is being groomed as a long-term successor to the finishing role.
How the Sanju Samson trade changed the CSK squad balance: The arrival of Sanju Samson at Chepauk provides CSK with the aggressive wicketkeeper-batter they’ve needed to transition into the post-Dhoni era. By trading out the defensive stability of Jadeja, CSK has signaled a move toward a higher-risk, higher-reward middle order. Samson’s ability to dominate spin will be vital at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, allowing Ruturaj Gaikwad to anchor the innings while Samson and Shivam Dube launch from the other end.
RR Full Squad Analysis: The All-Rounder Powerhouse
The Royals have arguably the most balanced XI in the competition. By trading away Sanju Samson, they secured the legendary Ravindra Jadeja (₹14 Cr) and the tactical versatility of Sam Curran (₹2.4 Cr). Combined with the retention of the “Powerplay Prodigy” Yashasvi Jaiswal (₹18 Cr) and the leadership of Riyan Parag, the Royals have built a squad with immense batting depth and a world-class spin attack featuring Ravi Bishnoi.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Full Squad 2026
Riyan Parag (C)
₹18 Cr
Yashasvi Jaiswal
₹18 Cr
Ravindra Jadeja
₹14 Cr
Jofra Archer
₹12.5 Cr
Dhruv Jurel
₹14 Cr
Shimron Hetmyer
₹8.5 Cr
Sam Curran
₹2.4 Cr
Ravi Bishnoi
₹7.2 Cr
Sandeep Sharma
₹4 Cr
Adam Milne
₹2.4 Cr
Nandre Burger
₹2 Cr
Tushar Deshpande
₹1.8 Cr
Vaibhav Suryavanshi
₹1.1 Cr
Shubham Dubey
₹0.5 Cr
Lhuan-dre Pretorius
₹0.3 Cr
Kwena Maphaka
₹0.3 Cr
Donovan Ferreira
₹0.3 Cr
Yudhvir Charak
₹0.3 Cr
Ravi Singh
₹0.3 Cr
Sushant Mishra
₹0.3 Cr
Kuldeep Sen
₹0.3 Cr
MI Full Squad Analysis: The "Paltan" Power Core
The Mumbai Indians entered the 2026 auction with the smallest purse but walked away with the most efficient signings. Retaining their “Big Four” (Hardik, Rohit, Surya, Bumrah) at a combined value of approximately ₹69 Cr set the foundation. The tactical masterstroke was trading for Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford, which provides the finishing power MI lacked in 2025. With Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar leading the new-ball attack, MI’s bowling unit looks like a championship-winning machine.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Full Squad 2026
Hardik Pandya (C)
₹16.35 Cr
Jasprit Bumrah
₹18 Cr
Suryakumar Yadav
₹16.35 Cr
Rohit Sharma
₹16.30 Cr
Trent Boult
₹12.50 Cr
Deepak Chahar
₹9.25 Cr
Tilak Varma
₹8 Cr
Sherfane Rutherford
₹2.60 Cr
Shardul Thakur
₹2 Cr
Quinton de Kock
₹1 Cr
Mayank Markande
₹0.30 Cr
Will Jacks
₹5.25 Cr
Naman Dhir
₹5.25 Cr
Allah Ghazanfar
₹4.80 Cr
Mitchell Santner
₹2 Cr
Ryan Rickelton
₹1 Cr
Robin Minz
₹0.65 Cr
Corbin Bosch
₹0.30 Cr
Ashwani Kumar
₹0.30 Cr
Raghu Sharma
₹0.30 Cr
Raj Angad Bawa
₹0.30 Cr
Danish Malewar
₹0.30 Cr
Mayank Rawat
₹0.30 Cr
Mohammad Izhar
₹0.30 Cr
Atharva Ankolekar
₹0.30 Cr
KKR Full Squad Analysis: The "25-Crore" Revolution
Kolkata Knight Riders made the biggest statement of the 2026 auction by securing Cameron Green for a record ₹25.20 Cr, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. With Ajinkya Rahane continuing as captain, the franchise has shifted toward a “Pace & Power” philosophy. By pairing the raw pace of Pathirana and Umran Malik with the tactical spin of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, KKR has built a squad designed to dominate both at the Eden Gardens and away on flatter decks.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Full Squad 2026
Cameron Green
₹25.20 Cr
Matheesha Pathirana
₹18 Cr
Rinku Singh
₹13 Cr
Sunil Narine
₹12 Cr
Varun Chakravarthy
₹12 Cr
Mustafizur Rahman
₹9.20 Cr
Harshit Rana
₹4 Cr
Ramandeep Singh
₹4 Cr
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
₹3 Cr
Vaibhav Arora
₹1.8 Cr
Ajinkya Rahane (C)
₹1.5 Cr
Rovman Powell
₹1.5 Cr
Manish Pandey
₹0.75 Cr
Umran Malik
₹0.75 Cr
Tejasvi Singh Dahiya
₹3 Cr
Rachin Ravindra
₹2 Cr
Finn Allen
₹2 Cr
Tim Seifert
₹1.50 Cr
Akash Deep
₹1 Cr
Rahul Tripathi
₹0.75 Cr
Anukul Roy
₹0.40 Cr
Kartik Tyagi
₹0.30 Cr
Prashant Solanki
₹0.30 Cr
Daksh Kamra
₹0.30 Cr
Sarthak Ranjan
₹0.30 Cr
RCB Full Squad Analysis: The "Champion Continuity" Strategy
Following their historic 2025 title win, the Royal Challengers have avoided a massive overhaul. Rajat Patidar continues as captain, backed by the legendary Virat Kohli. The franchise’s biggest move in the 2026 auction was securing Venkatesh Iyer for ₹7 crore to provide a versatile top-order option. With a pace battery led by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and a middle-order engine room featuring Tim David and Krunal Pandya, RCB is perfectly positioned to defend their crown.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Full Squad 2026
Virat Kohli
₹21 Cr
Rajat Patidar (C)
₹11 Cr
Venkatesh Iyer
₹7 Cr
Phil Salt
₹12 Cr
Devdutt Padikkal
₹2 Cr
Krunal Pandya
₹10 Cr
Tim David
₹8 Cr
Romario Shepherd
₹4 Cr
Jacob Bethell
₹1.5 Cr
Swapnil Singh
₹0.5 Cr
Josh Hazlewood
₹12.5 Cr
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
₹6 Cr
Yash Dayal
₹5 Cr
Mangesh Yadav
₹5.2 Cr
Nuwan Thushara
₹2.2 Cr
Jacob Duffy
₹2 Cr
Suyash Sharma
₹2 Cr
Rasikh Salam
₹2 Cr
Jitesh Sharma (WK)
₹11 Cr
Jordan Cox
₹0.75 Cr
Abhinandan Singh
₹0.3 Cr
Vicky Ostwal
₹0.3 Cr
Vihaan Malhotra
₹0.3 Cr
Kanishk Chouhan
₹0.3 Cr
Satvik Deswal
₹0.3 Cr
GT Full Squad Analysis: Strategic Fine-Tuning
Under the leadership of Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans have opted for stability over major overhauls. Their primary focus in the 2026 auction was to bolster an all-rounder department that struggled for consistency last season. By acquiring Jason Holder (₹7 Cr), they’ve added a veteran presence to support Rashid Khan and Washington Sundar. The addition of Tom Banton also provides a high-quality backup for Jos Buttler, ensuring their explosive top-order remains a threat regardless of availability.
Gujarat Titans (GT) Full Squad 2026
Shubman Gill (C)
₹16.50 Cr
Jos Buttler
₹15.75 Cr
Sai Sudharsan
₹8.50 Cr
Tom Banton
₹2.00 Cr
Rashid Khan
₹18.00 Cr
Jason Holder
₹7.00 Cr
Washington Sundar
₹3.20 Cr
Rahul Tewatia
₹4.00 Cr
Shahrukh Khan
₹4.00 Cr
Glenn Phillips
₹2.00 Cr
Mohammed Siraj
₹12.25 Cr
Kagiso Rabada
₹10.75 Cr
Prasidh Krishna
₹9.50 Cr
Ashok Sharma
₹0.90 Cr
Luke Wood
₹0.75 Cr
Ishant Sharma
₹0.75 Cr
Sai Kishore
₹2.00 Cr
Kumar Kushagra
₹0.65 Cr
Anuj Rawat
₹0.30 Cr
Arshad Khan
₹1.30 Cr
Nishant Sindhu
₹0.30 Cr
Jayant Yadav
₹0.75 Cr
Manav Suthar
₹0.30 Cr
Gurnoor Brar
₹1.30 Cr
Prithviraj Yarra
₹0.30 Cr
DC Full Squad Analysis: The "Axar-Rahul" Leadership Era
The Delhi Capitals entered the 2026 season with a clear mission: inject experience into a talented but young core. By retaining KL Rahul (₹14 Cr) and naming Axar Patel as full-time captain, they have secured a stable tactical spine. The headline of their auction was the intense bidding war for Auqib Nabi Dar, whose raw pace and domestic dominance made him the most expensive J&K player in history. With the addition of David Miller and Nitish Rana (via trade), DC has significantly strengthened their middle-order finishing capabilities.
Delhi Capitals (DC) Full Squad 2026
Axar Patel (C)
₹16.50 Cr
KL Rahul
₹14.00 Cr
Kuldeep Yadav
₹13.25 Cr
Mitchell Starc
₹11.75 Cr
T Natarajan
₹10.75 Cr
Tristan Stubbs
₹10.00 Cr
Auqib Nabi Dar
₹8.40 Cr
Nitish Rana
₹4.20 Cr
Abishek Porel
₹4.00 Cr
Pathum Nissanka
₹4.00 Cr
Ashutosh Sharma
₹3.80 Cr
David Miller
₹2.00 Cr
Ben Duckett
₹2.00 Cr
Lungi Ngidi
₹2.00 Cr
Kyle Jamieson
₹2.00 Cr
Mukesh Kumar
₹8.00 Cr
Sameer Rizvi
₹0.95 Cr
Dushmantha Chameera
₹0.75 Cr
Prithvi Shaw
₹0.75 Cr
Karun Nair
₹0.50 Cr
Madhav Tiwari
₹0.40 Cr
Ajay Mandal
₹0.30 Cr
Tripurana Vijay
₹0.30 Cr
Vipraj Nigam
₹0.30 Cr
Sahil Parakh
₹0.30 Cr
LSG Full Squad Analysis: The record-breaking "Pant-Pooran" Engine
The Super Giants made headlines by retaining Rishabh Pant for an IPL-record ₹27 Crore, cementing his role as the face of the franchise. They further bolstered their identity by trading in veteran warrior Mohammed Shami (₹10 Cr) from SRH, adding much-needed experience to a pace attack that features the express speed of Mayank Yadav. The auction strategy focused on versatility, securing Josh Inglis (₹8.6 Cr) and a “steal” in Wanindu Hasaranga (₹2 Cr) to lead the spin department.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Full Squad 2026
Rishabh Pant (C)
₹27.00 Cr
Nicholas Pooran
₹21.00 Cr
Mayank Yadav
₹11.00 Cr
Mohammed Shami
₹10.00 Cr
Avesh Khan
₹9.75 Cr
Josh Inglis
₹8.60 Cr
Abdul Samad
₹4.20 Cr
Ayush Badoni
₹4.00 Cr
Mitchell Marsh
₹3.40 Cr
Shahbaz Ahmed
₹2.40 Cr
Aiden Markram
₹2.00 Cr
Wanindu Hasaranga
₹2.00 Cr
Anrich Nortje
₹2.00 Cr
Mukul Choudhary
₹2.60 Cr
Akshat Raghuwanshi
₹2.20 Cr
Naman Tiwari
₹1.00 Cr
Mohsin Khan
₹4.00 Cr
Manimaran Siddharth
₹0.75 Cr
Matthew Breetzke
₹0.75 Cr
Arjun Tendulkar
₹0.30 Cr
Himmat Singh
₹0.30 Cr
Arshin Kulkarni
₹0.30 Cr
Digvesh Rathi
₹0.30 Cr
Prince Yadav
₹0.30 Cr
Akash Singh
₹0.30 Cr
SRH Full Squad Analysis: The "Attack-First" Philosophy
Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the 2026 cycle with a clear mandate: double down on their aggressive batting. By retaining the core trio of Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma, they kept their identity intact. The biggest headline from their auction was the ₹13 Crore signing of Liam Livingstone, which solves their middle-order power-hitting gap. With Heinrich Klaasen (₹23 Cr) as the most expensive retention, SRH has built a 25-player squad designed to post 200+ scores consistently.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Full Squad 2026
Heinrich Klaasen
₹23.00 Cr
Pat Cummins (C)
₹18.00 Cr
Travis Head
₹14.00 Cr
Abhishek Sharma
₹14.00 Cr
Ishan Kishan
₹11.00 Cr
Nitish Kumar Reddy
₹6.00 Cr
Liam Livingstone
₹13.00 Cr
Harshal Patel
₹8.00 Cr
Jack Edwards
₹3.00 Cr
Salil Arora
₹1.50 Cr
Eshan Malinga
₹1.20 Cr
Brydon Carse
₹1.00 Cr
Jaydev Unadkat
₹1.00 Cr
Kamindu Mendis
₹0.75 Cr
Shivam Mavi
₹0.75 Cr
Zeeshan Ansari
₹0.40 Cr
Shivang Kumar
₹0.30 Cr
Onkar Tarmale
₹0.30 Cr
Sakib Hussain
₹0.30 Cr
Aniket Verma
₹0.30 Cr
Ravichandran Smaran
₹0.30 Cr
Harsh Dubey
₹0.30 Cr
Amit Kumar
₹0.30 Cr
Praful Hinge
₹0.30 Cr
Krains Fuletra
₹0.30 Cr
PBKS Full Squad Analysis: The Shreyas Iyer Redemption
The Punjab Kings have shed their reputation for “chopping and changing.” Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, they have maintained the exact core that took them to their first final in 11 years. Their auction strategy was the most relaxed in the room, focusing on tactical depth with Ben Dwarshuis (₹4.4 Cr) and Cooper Connolly (₹3 Cr). With a middle order featuring Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh, and a bowling attack led by Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal, PBKS is no longer an underdog but a title favorite.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) Full Squad 2026
Shreyas Iyer (C)
₹26.75 Cr
Prabhsimran Singh (WK)
₹4.00 Cr
Priyansh Arya
₹3.80 Cr
Harnoor Pannu
₹0.30 Cr
Marcus Stoinis
₹11.00 Cr
Marco Jansen
₹7.00 Cr
Shashank Singh
₹5.50 Cr
Azmatullah Omarzai
₹2.40 Cr
Cooper Connolly
₹3.00 Cr
Nehal Wadhera
₹1.25 Cr
Arshdeep Singh
₹18.00 Cr
Yuzvendra Chahal
₹18.00 Cr
Harpreet Brar
₹4.00 Cr
Ben Dwarshuis
₹4.40 Cr
Lockie Ferguson
₹2.00 Cr
Xavier Bartlett
₹0.80 Cr
Yash Thakur
₹0.40 Cr
Vyshak Vijaykumar
₹0.40 Cr
Musheer Khan
₹0.30 Cr
Suryansh Shedge
₹0.30 Cr
Mitchell Owen
₹3.00 Cr
Pyla Avinash
₹0.30 Cr
Pravin Dubey
₹0.30 Cr
Vishal Nishad
₹0.30 Cr
The Stage is Set for a Blockbuster 2026
The IPL 2026 teams have emerged from the Abu Dhabi auction with a clear message: the gap between “big names” and “big impact” has never been smaller. From Kolkata Knight Riders building the fastest pace attack in league history to CSK placing a record-breaking bet on uncapped Indian talent, the tactical diversity on display is unprecedented. As defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru prepare for the season opener on March 26, the question remains: will the blockbuster price tags of Cameron Green and Rishabh Pant translate into silverware, or will a dark horse emerge from the reshuffled rosters? One thing is certain—the 2026 season is set to be the most unpredictable chapter in the IPL’s history.
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