Top 5 oldest players to register for IPL 2026 auction

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently revealed the final list of 350 players set to go under the hammer at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16, and among them are several veterans nearing the twilight of their careers. A few haven't been part of the league for a few years now, but have still registered their names, in a bid to attract a taker at the table. With 1390 registrations trimmed down to 350 names, the pool features 240 Indian and 110 overseas players, many of whom are on the verge of retirement and hoping for one last shot at the league. This year’s auction sees some of the oldest active cricketers. As franchises prepare to fill 77 slots, these veterans will hope to earn a final IPL contract. Here are the 5 oldest players to register for the IPL 2026 auction Dwaine Pretorius — 37 years Dwaine Pretorius. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) South African all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius will be among the oldest players on the auction list this year. The 37-year-old's career took off late after multiple knee injuries. His comeback saw him become South Africa’s T20 Amateur Cricketer of the Year in 2011-12, earning a franchise contract in 2014-15, and later representing his country in all three formats. Pretorius even holds South Africa’s best T20I bowling figures of 5 for 17 against Pakistan. In the IPL, he featured for Chennai Super Kings in 2022 and 2023, playing a total of seven games and bagging six wickets. This year he has once again given his name and will enter at the base price of INR 1 crore. It will be interesting to see if CSK re-buy Pretorius or he will find a new home elsewhere. Karn Sharma — 38 years Karn Sharma (Source: SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images) At the age of 38, leg-spinner Karn Sharma is set to be one of the oldest players in the IPL 2026 auction. The Meerut-born cricketer first made headlines in 2014 when Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for INR 3.75 crore, then the highest bid for an uncapped Indian. His strong seasons with SRH, followed by stints with MI, CSK, and RCB, place him as a reliable wicket-taking option With 83 wickets in 90 IPL matches, Karn has consistently displayed his abilities, including seven wickets in six games for the Mumbai Indians in 2025 as an impact player. Despite that, MI may release him ahead of the 2026 auction, opening the door for other teams searching for an experienced spinner. Richard Gleeson — 38 years Richard Gleeson. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images) England seamer Richard Gleeson returns to the IPL auction table as one of the oldest names in the pool. Gleeson made his professional debut at 27 and his international debut at 34, famously dismissing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant in his first eight balls in T20Is. His career saw him play for Northamptonshire, Lancashire, and several global leagues. Gleeson’s IPL stint came with the Chennai Super Kings in 2024, where he featured in two games and impressed on debut. In 2025, he was also lined up by the Mumbai Indians as a potential playoff replacement. With a base price of INR 75 lakh, Gleeson will enter at the age of 38. Umesh Yadav — 38 years Umesh Yadav. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Veteran Indian pacer Umesh Yadav, who is 38, is one of the oldest names in the auction pool. Across formats, Umesh has shown his potential with the ability to bowl quickly and extract movement. In the IPL, he has picked 144 wickets from 148 matches, representing multiple franchisees. His best seasons came with 19 wickets for Delhi in 2012, 20 for RCB in 2018, and a comeback with KKR in 2022. After going unsold in the 2025 auction due to injury, Umesh was recently recalled to Vidarbha’s squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Meanwhile, at the auction, he has fixed his base price at 1.5 crore. Jalaj Saxena — 39 years Jalaj Saxena. (Source:BCCl) At the age of 39, Jalaj Saxena will enter the upcoming IPL auction as the oldest player on the list with a base price of INR 40 lakh. A domestic stalwart, Saxena has spent nearly two decades dominating the Ranji Trophy, becoming the first player to score 6000 runs and take 400 wickets in the tournament’s history. Having represented Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and now Maharashtra, Saxena’s skillset is well-known and documented. Across formats, he has nearly 500 First-Class wickets and over 7000 runs. However, his IPL career has been limited, featuring stints with franchises like Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Notably, Saxena has also earned his BCCI Level-3 coaching certificate. Currently, at the twilight of his career, Saxena could be seen as a dependable backup all-rounder.

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Top 5 oldest players to register for IPL 2026 auction

A total of 350 players will go under the hammer in the IPL 2026 auction.

Richard Gleeson — 38 years

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