As always, with limited purses available for most of the teams and a fair number of slots to fill at the IPL 2026 mini auction, Indian uncapped cricketers will be in demand. Here’s a look at five such players who could attract a lot of attention.
A consistent wicket-taker across formats in domestic cricket over the past few seasons, Auqib Nabi (registered as Auqib Dar) is primarily a swing bowler. In recent times, however, the Jammu & Kashmir bowler has added new dimensions to his game – most notably improved death-overs skills – which have significantly boosted his value.
His recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performances underline that progress: 15 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate under eight, numbers that back up the work he has put in. Has been a net bowler with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the past.
Identified initially while representing Noida Super Kings in the UP T20 League, 20-year-old left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Prashant Veer has also built a solid body of work at this year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. That progress hasn’t gone unnoticed with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) having taken a closer look at him in trials as they look to identify a long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja.
The past few weeks have neatly captured his rise. Veer has shuttled between Mumbai and Kolkata, featuring in six matches across seven days in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Uttar Pradesh’s Under-23 fixtures. He signed off from first of those with 112 runs at a strike rate of 170, alongside nine wickets at a miserly economy of 6.76 – numbers that suggest Noida won’t be the only Super Kings he plays for.
Ashok Sharma has been in the Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajashthan Royals squads in the past•Ashok Sharma/Red Bull
Rajasthan’s Ashok Sharma consistently clocks the high 140s and bowls a heavy ball. Erratic in his early years, he has undergone a marked transformation over the past two seasons, emerging as a far more rounded seamer capable of operating effectively across different phases.
Ashok finished the group stage of the latest Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 19 wickets in seven matches at an average of 12.10 and an economy of 8.84. Despite being part of the squads at KKR and, more recently, at Rajasthan Royals (RR), he is yet to get a game. This time, though, there’s a strong sense that his moment may finally have arrived.
Left-arm wristspinners are rare globally, which is precisely why Fuletra has begun to attract attention despite having featured in just two T20 matches for Saurashtra.
Krains Fuletra was picked as a net bowler by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) last season and, but for a technicality, could well have found himself in the squad as a replacement for Adam Zampa. The move didn’t materialise only because he hadn’t registered for the auction.
Well before that, however, his potential had been flagged internally: Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat had recommended Fuletra to the franchise. Now firmly on the radar of at least two IPL teams, his prospects may hinge less on ability and more on timing – specifically, when he comes up at the auction.
A clean striker and a lower-order finisher, Kartik Sharma’s penchant for hitting big sixes has several teams excited. Only 19, Kartik has been signed up by JSW – which manages several top athletes like Neeraj Chopra – giving you more than just an inkling of his talent. The numbers back it up. In 12 T20s, Kartik has amassed 334 runs at a strike rate of 164, hitting 28 sixes.
Clips of his power-hitting have travelled far and wide, earning admiration from the likes of Kevin Pietersen and R Ashwin. For Rajasthan, his impact has been tangible. Kartik’s late-order firepower has added depth and muscle to their batting, and he has played a key role as they surged into the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy knockouts by winning six of their seven matches.
Shashank Kishore is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo
