Aakash Chopra predicts top five expensive overseas players in IPL 2026 Auction

Former India and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Aakash Chopra predicted the top five overseas player signings at the IPL 2026 mini-auction on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

The cricketer-turned-commentator named three stars for the No. 5 spot - South African duo of David Miller and Anrich Nortje, and Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana.

"There is the South Africa series going on, so there is going to be some recency bias. I've kept Matheesha Pathirana, David Miller, and Anrich Nortje at No.5. If Nortje and Miller perform well against India, then they will get a lot of money," he said in a clip posted on X.

Chopra placed spin-bowling all-rounders Michael Bracewell (New Zealand) and Cooper Connolly (Australia) at the fourth position.

"There should be a lot of interest for Michael Bracewell, but unfortunately there isn't. CSK, you need an offie, he does bat well too. So CSK should think about him. Ricky Ponting has an overseas slot empty now, so Connolly is an option there," Chopra opined.

For positions two and three, Chopra named England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow and all-rounder Liam Livingstone, respectively.

"Livingstone has been an underperformer, he has been underwhelming, whether it be for Punjab or RCB. But, it is all about Supply and Demand now, there are no explosive middle-order players, even Maxi (Maxwell) is not there now. So, I think Livingstone will make money this time too," Chopra said.

"I have kept Jonny Bairstow at No.2. He has hit a lot, and played a few matches for the Mumbai Indians last season as well. Plenty of teams can go after him. KKR need a keeper-batter, and DC need an explosive batter at the top of the order, so I think there will be a lot of interest for him," he added.

Cameron Green will be at No.1, there is nobody even coming close: Chopra

Chopra believes that no other overseas player will be able to earn a paycheck as high as Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. According to the 48-year-old, Green could go for around INR 25 to INR 28 crore. It is important to note that Rishabh Pant holds the record for being the most expensive player at an IPL auction. In the mega-auction ahead of IPL 2025, the wicketkeeper-batter was roped in by Lucknow Super Giants for INR 27 crore.

"Cameron Green will be at No.1, there is nobody even coming close. How much ever the final price is, he is only going to get the maximum cap of INR 18 crore, but the bid, it could be a proper bidding war. There will be KKR and there will be CSK, and there will some other team that jumps in before CSK, it could actually be 25 to 28 crore for him," Aakash Chopra concluded.