Several high-profile franchises endured forgettable campaigns in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, finishing in the lower half of the table. Multiple-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) found themselves languishing at 10th and 8th place, respectively, sparking speculation that both teams could be gearing up for a major squad overhaul ahead of IPL 2026.
One man who knows the pulse of IPL auctions better than most is Ravichandran Ashwin — a CSK legend, veteran off-spinner, and someone whose own name has been buzzing in the trade window chatter. Speaking on his popular Hindi YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ashwin shared his predictions for the costliest buys in the upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction.
According to Ravichandran Ashwin, this auction will heavily favour overseas players, particularly all-rounders, while proven Indian names will be hard to secure.
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“This will be a mini auction where you’ll find it tough to get Indian players. Maybe only new domestic faces will come in. The costliest picks will be overseas players,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.
He explained that franchises rarely take the risk of releasing established Indian stars. As a result, the bidding wars are likely to centre around foreign talent, especially Australians. “So many Australian players will come into the auction,” he remarked.
Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted two Aussies in particular who could command massive price tags: Mitchell Owen and Cameron Green.
“Mitchell Owen, who played as a replacement for Punjab Kings in three games, and someone like Cameron Green — they’ll fetch big money because they are foreign all-rounders. This mini-auction will be a Rs 25–30 crore game for all teams,” Ravichandran Ashwin predicted.
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Green, a dynamic seam-bowling all-rounder, missed the IPL 2025 mega-auction due to a lower-spine fracture sustained during the white-ball tour of England in September 2024. Owen, on the other hand, went unsold in that auction but was later brought in by Punjab Kings as Glenn Maxwell’s injury replacement. His IPL 2025 stint was brief — just one appearance, where he scored a two-ball duck — but his all-round potential remains attractive for franchises.
Both players are currently part of Australia’s ongoing T20I series against South Africa, adding to their visibility ahead of the auction. Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t overlook the Indian talent pool entirely. He tipped Lucknow Super Giants’ speedster Mayank Yadav as a possible high-demand option, despite his injury setbacks.
Retained for a hefty INR 11 crore, Mayank could only feature in four games during IPL 2025 due to recurring fitness issues. Yet, his raw pace and wicket-taking ability ensure that he remains a tempting proposition for teams in need of an Indian quick. With so many narratives converging — struggling giants, overseas all-rounder battles, and the hunt for rare Indian gems — the IPL 2026 mini-auction promises to be one of the most intriguing in recent memory.
