The Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) auction is all set to take place on December 16 (Tuesday) in Abu Dhabi, with 350 players set to go under the hammer. From star overseas players like Cameron Green to Indian talents like Venkatesh Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, the ten teams are expected to engage in bidding wars in order to fill the remaining slots. However, with just 77 slots left to be filled at the IPL 2026 auction, there are high chances of several players going unsold.
So, instead of speculating, we at InsideSport put AI at work. AI tried to find out the answer to, ‘which star players could go unsold at IPL 2026 auction?’. As per Google Gemini, a host of players including Sarfaraz Khan, Prithvi Shaw, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis are among the star players who can go unsold.
Star players who can go unsold at IPL 2026 auction
1. Steve Smith
The Australian batter, who has registered himself for a base price of Rs 2 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, last featured in the league way back in 2021. He went unsold thereafter in the next 4 seasons. AI suggests that his less aggressive batting approach coupled with his age could be a concern for franchises and hence could go unsold.
2. Sarfaraz Khan
Another player who found no takers in the IPL 2025 auction and could go unsold in 2026 is Sarfaraz, as per Gemini. The batter has stellar figures in domestic red-ball cricket but doesn’t boast of great numbers in the shortest format of the game. With mixed performances in T20s leading up to the IPL 2026 auction, Khan has a good chance of going unsold.
3. Josh Inglis
The Australian wicker-keeper batter was released by Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Teams are unlikely to bid for Inglis as he will be available only for four matches in the upcoming season.
4. Prithvi Shaw
“An explosive opener with immense talent, Shaw has struggled with consistency and fitness issues, leading to him going unsold in the previous full auction. Although he has shown recent domestic form, his previous auction experience suggests he faces an uphill battle,” as per Gemini.
5. Devon Conway
The ex-CSK opener’s form in the shortest format of the game has dipped in the recent past, which also prompted the five-time champions to release him. He has also faced issues with injuries and availability, which may deter franchises looking for reliable, explosive opening options.
6. Wanindu Hasaranga
The Sri Lankan all-rounder was released by Rajasthan Royals (RR) after just one season where he had a sub-par performance with both bat and ball. Apart from that, Hasaranga is also injury-prone, which will prompt franchises to think twice before wanting to invest any amount on him.
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