The build-up to the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on 16 December 2025 is full of numbers, strategies and tough calls for all ten franchises. From a massive registration pool, the final 350-player auction list is now confirmed, and within that, the ₹1 crore base price bracket has become a very interesting mid-premium category for teams.
These are the players who are not in the elite ₹2 crore band, but are still backing their experience and impact with a strong ₹1 crore reserve price. Many of them are proven performers in international cricket and in the IPL, especially in specialist roles like death bowling, left-arm pace, and wicketkeeping.
In total, 17 players have entered the auction with a ₹1 crore base price.
What Does the ₹1 Crore Base Price Bracket Mean?
The ₹1 crore bracket usually attracts:
- Players who already have IPL experience and defined roles.
- Overseas specialists who can slot directly into a first-choice XI.
- Indian players with a mix of experience and current form who can strengthen the core squad.
For teams with limited purse but clear role gaps – especially in pace bowling, spin depth and middle-order hitting – this bracket can provide great value if bidding wars don’t escalate too far.
Read Also:- IPL All Team Coaches and Their Salaries
Complete List – ₹1 Crore Base Price Players (IPL 2026 Auction)
Below is the full list of 17 players who have set their reserve price at ₹1 crore (₹100 lakh) in the IPL 2026 Auction, along with their country, age, specialism, IPL matches and last IPL team (2025 season).
*IPL matches played column is as per latest available record in the auction list.
| Sr. No. | Full Name | Country | Age | Specialism | IPL Matches Played* | 2025 Team | C/U/A | Reserve Price (₹ Lakh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wiaan Mulder | South Africa | 28 | ALL-ROUNDER RHB, Right-arm fast medium | 1 | SRH | Capped | 100 |
| 2 | Jonny Bairstow | England | 36 | WICKETKEEPER, RHB | 52 | MI | Capped | 100 |
| 3 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 33 | WICKETKEEPER, LHB | 115 | KKR | Capped | 100 |
| 4 | Akash Deep | India | 29 | BOWLER, Right-arm fast | 14 | LSG | Capped | 100 |
| 5 | Fazalhaq Farooqi | Afghanistan | 25 | BOWLER, Left-arm fast medium | 12 | RR | Capped | 100 |
| 6 | Rahul Chahar | India | 26 | BOWLER, Right-arm leg spin | 80 | SRH | Capped | 100 |
| 7 | Reeza Hendricks | South Africa | 36 | BATTER, RHB, off-spin option | 87 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 8 | Ben Dwarshuis | Australia | 31 | ALL-ROUNDER, LHB, left-arm fast medium | 13 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 9 | Daniel Sams | Australia | 33 | ALL-ROUNDER, RHB, left-arm fast medium | 16 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 10 | Kusal Perera | Sri Lanka | 35 | WICKETKEEPER, LHB | 93 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 11 | Mohammad Waqar Salamkheil | Afghanistan | 24 | BOWLER, Left-arm slow unorthodox | 1 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 12 | George Linde | South Africa | 34 | ALL-ROUNDER, LHB, left-arm spin | 25 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 13 | Gulbadin Naib | Afghanistan | 34 | ALL-ROUNDER, RHB, right-arm medium | 78 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 14 | William Sutherland | Australia | 26 | ALL-ROUNDER, RHB, right-arm fast | 2 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 15 | Charith Asalanka | Sri Lanka | 28 | ALL-ROUNDER, LHB, off-spin option | 70 | MI | Capped | 100 |
| 16 | Dwaine Pretorius | South Africa | 37 | ALL-ROUNDER, RHB, right-arm fast medium | 30 | – | Capped | 100 |
| 17 | Joshua Tongue | England | 28 | BOWLER, Right-arm fast | 6 | – | Capped | 100 |
Role-wise Breakdown of ₹1 Crore Players
Looking at the table, the ₹1 crore bracket has a very clear role profile:
1. All-Rounders Core
Names like Wiaan Mulder, Daniel Sams, George Linde, Gulbadin Naib, William Sutherland, Charith Asalanka and Dwaine Pretorius make this bracket extremely attractive for teams searching for:
- A No. 6 or No. 7 batter who can bowl 2–4 overs.
- Balance in both powerplay and death overs, especially for smaller grounds.
- Flexibility to play an extra bowler without weakening the batting.
These players give captains the freedom to change plans mid-game, which is crucial in a high-scoring T20 era.
2. Wicketkeeper-Batters
The presence of Jonny Bairstow, Quinton de Kock and Kusal Perera adds a lot of value at the top and middle order:
- All three are left-handed or aggressive stroke-makers, ideal for powerplay hitting.
- They can open the innings or slot into the top three depending on team combination.
- Teams looking to refresh their wicketkeeping options have strong choices in this band without going into the ₹2 crore bracket.
3. Specialist Bowlers
The list also includes several specialist bowlers:
- Akash Deep, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mohammad Waqar Salamkheil, Joshua Tongue, Rahul Chahar.
- Mix of right-arm pace, left-arm pace and wrist spin.
- Useful for teams who want to stack their bowling attack with variety while keeping budgets under control.
For example:
- Fazalhaq Farooqi offers left-arm swing and control in the powerplay.
- Rahul Chahar brings leg-spin and middle-overs control with plenty of IPL experience.
- Tongue and Akash Deep are fast bowlers who can be used as impact options in pace-friendly conditions.
Country-Wise Snapshot
The ₹1 crore group is dominated by overseas names, with a few key Indian options:
- India: Akash Deep, Rahul Chahar
- South Africa: Wiaan Mulder, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Dwaine Pretorius
- Afghanistan: Fazalhaq Farooqi, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Waqar Salamkheil
- Australia: Ben Dwarshuis, Daniel Sams, William Sutherland
- England: Jonny Bairstow, Joshua Tongue
- Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka
This spread shows that teams will use this bracket mainly for overseas upgrades, especially in all-round and bowling roles, with a couple of Indian options for spin and pace.
Read more: IPL 2026 Trade: Players List
Why the ₹1 Crore Bracket Is So Important for Teams
In a mini-auction where:
- Purses are tight for some franchises, and
- Overseas slots are limited,
the ₹1 crore category can decide the balance of a squad. Teams that don’t want to over-commit to one superstar can:
- Pick two or three players from this band instead of going all-in on a single ₹2 crore name.
- Use this bracket to build bench strength and horses-for-courses options (e.g., certain grounds or match-ups).
Franchises like those with medium-to-low remaining purse can target this list to:
- Strengthen lower middle order finishing,
- Add backup wicketkeeper,
- Or cover a specialist spin or left-arm pace role.
Conclusion
The ₹1 crore base price players list for the IPL 2026 Auction might not have the loudest headlines like the ₹2 crore bracket, but it is one of the most strategic categories in the entire pool.
With 17 experienced and versatile cricketers – including names like Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, Charith Asalanka, Daniel Sams, Rahul Chahar and Fazalhaq Farooqi – this segment offers a mix of:
- Proven T20 quality,
- Multi-skill all-round options,
- And specialist bowlers who can walk into matchday XIs.
On 16 December in Abu Dhabi, a lot of smart teams will quietly build the backbone of their IPL 2026 campaign from exactly this ₹1 crore list – and some of these buys could turn out to be the biggest value picks of the season.
