Several big IPL teams had a poor season in 2025. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) finished tenth in the points table. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ended in eighth place. Experts believe these teams could make big squad changes before IPL 2026.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his views on the upcoming mini-auction. Ashwin, who is also part of trade window talks, named players who could become the costliest buys.
‘Overseas All-Rounders Like Mitch Owen in Demand for IPL 2026’ – Ravichandran Ashwin
Speaking on his Hindi YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin said overseas players will be the most expensive picks. He explained that getting established Indian players in a mini-auction is difficult. “Only new Indian players may come. The costly picks will be overseas players,” Ashwin said.
He added that releasing a big Indian player is risky for franchises. According to him, many Australian players will be in the auction pool.
Ashwin named two Australian cricketers who could get massive bids Mitchell Owen and Cameron Green. “You have Mitchell Owen, who played three games for Punjab Kings as a replacement. Then you have Cameron Green. They will go at a big price because they are foreign all-rounders. The mini-auction will be a game of Rs 25-30 crore for all teams,” Ashwin said.
Green missed the IPL 2025 mega-auction due to a lower-spine fracture during the England tour in September 2024. Owen went unsold in the mega-auction but later joined Punjab Kings as an injury replacement for Glenn Maxwell. He played only one game and scored a two-ball duck.
Both Owen and Green are currently playing in the T20I series against South Africa.
Ashwin also mentioned one Indian name Lucknow Super Giants fast bowler Mayank Yadav. Mayank was retained for INR 11 crore but could only play four matches in 2025 due to injuries. Ashwin believes he could be among the few sought-after Indian players in the auction.
With big teams looking to bounce back, the IPL 2026 mini-auction could see huge bids and surprise moves
