Cricket
Big names, strong IPL records, but no buyers this time. Here are five surprising players who missed out in the IPL 2026 auction
Mujeeb Ur Rahman went unsold due to limited game time and lack of impact in recent seasons, with franchises favoring alternative overseas spinners
Maheesh Theekshana surprisingly found no buyers despite 36 wickets in 38 matches, as inconsistent performances led teams to prioritize other spin or pace options
Jonny Bairstow failed to attract bids even with 1,674 IPL runs, mainly due to limited chances in 2025, past injury concerns, and franchises opting for younger wicketkeeping options
Conway went unsold despite 1,080 runs at an average of 43.20, as injuries, a poor 2025 season, and teams preferring more aggressive overseas batters worked against him
Jake Fraser-McGurk remained unsold after an explosive 2024 season because his form dipped sharply in 2025, raising doubts over his consistency at the IPL level.