As preparations intensify for the IPL 2026 mini-auction, an unexpected update has caught players and fans off guard. The league has quietly removed nine names that were added late to the auction list earlier this month, with no explanation offered so far.
On December 9, the IPL expanded its final auction pool by adding nine players at the very end of the list. This move briefly increased the total number of shortlisted names from 350 to 359. However, by December 13, those additional names were no longer visible on the official list.
Six Indian players were part of this group, all placed with a base price of ₹30 lakh. Among them was Mani Sankar Mura Singh, a well-known face in Tripura cricket with a reputation for aggressive batting. Chama Milind, an experienced domestic pacer, was another addition. K.L. Shrijith, Swastik Chikara, Rahul Raj Namala and Virat Singh completed the Indian contingent. Virat Singh, who represents Jharkhand, has previously been part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad setup, while Swastik Chikara had attracted attention at Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season despite not playing a match, thanks to strong performances in local competitions.
The overseas trio included Malaysia all-rounder Virandeep Singh, who brings vast T20 experience with thousands of runs and over a hundred wickets. South African Eathan Bosch and Australian all-rounder Chris Green were the other two, both listed at a higher base price of ₹75 lakh.
Originally, more than 1,000 players had registered for the auction. The IPL narrowed this down to 350 names after consulting franchise interest. The reason for both the late inclusion and sudden removal of these nine players remains unclear.
The IPL 2026 mini-auction is scheduled to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.
