The IPL mini auction could witness surprise picks from Associate nations.
The IPL 2026 auction is just a few months away and the franchises must be keeping in touch with their scouts. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the most lucrative T20 tournament in the world, with players all over the world hoping to feature in it.
The 10 franchises will be looking to strengthen their squads in the mini auction later this year. Players from ICC’s associate nations rarely get picked up in the league. But recent years have seen quite a few quality players rising through these countries. Here we take a look at five associate players who could get a bid in the IPL 2026 auction.
MAL
–
HKG
–
WI
–
AUS
–
RWA
–
ML
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
ROM
178/6
LUX
11/0
HUN
–
AUST
–
AUST
–
LUX
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
ALZ
21/3
JIHCC
163/4
RPH
–
MAR
–
JIHCC
–
ALZ
–
RPH
–
JIHCC
–
ALZ
–
RPH
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
BOT-W
16/3
MWW-W
–
EWW-W
–
LSN-W
13/2
RWA-W
–
SLO-W
–
CW-W
–
MZW-W
–
GUJCC
–
SUL
–
CHK
–
TCC
–
FRC
122/4
KLG
108/6
Fatemi Resources Cricket Club beat KL Gladiators by 14 runs
JBK
80/4
SWCL
106/5
Sky Warriors Cricket Club beat JB Kings by 26 runs
UTC
78/4
MXC
80/2
Maxx Cricket Club beat Utkal Cricket Club by 8 wickets
MKP
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MBMS
5/1
FRC
–
MXC
–
JBK
–
MBMS
–
UTC
–
KLG
–
MKP
–
SWCL
–
UAE
121/3
NIG
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KNY
–
NBA
–
KNY
–
NIG
–
UAE
–
UGA
–
VMK
–
MMS
–
MAK
154/9
BDS
155/4
Boost Defenders beat Mis Ainak Knights by 6 wickets
ASS
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SGT
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WIU19-W
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USAU19-W
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WIU19-W
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USAU19-W
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TBLZ-W
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BRB-W
–
TBC
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TBC
–
Match Cancelled
SUR-W
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TBC
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IAC
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AAC
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PNC
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WIC
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SAC
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AAC
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IAC
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EDC
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NZ
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SA
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IRE-W
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ZIM-W
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The 25-year-old Scotland all-rounder Brandon McMullen is on the rise and might grab some attention in the IPL auction. He is a middle order batter who can bowl pace – an extremely valuable player type in the shorter format.
McMullen has over 700 runs in the shorter format at an average of 31 and strike rate of 143. He has eight fifties in 26 innings. In the recent tri-series against Nepal and Netherlands, he struck 51 off 27 and 42 off 30 in two innings while claiming three wickets in four games.
Last year, McMullen blasted 60 off 34 deliveries against Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He followed that up with scores of 59 and 56 in a bilateral series against the same opponents.
Monank Patel, the India-born USA top order batter had an outstanding season in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025. Playing for MI New York, he amassed 478 runs at an average of 37 while striking at 142.
Monank smashed four half-centuries in the competition. He was at his best against Seattle Orcas, hitting 93 runs in 50 deliveries. His exploits in the tournament could earn himself a bid in the IPL 2026 auction.
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The UAE batter Muhammad Waseem is known for his destructive hitting and the ability to single-handedly turn the match when he gets going. He has over 3,000 runs in his T20 career at a strike rate of 153 while averaging 35. He has three centuries and 25 half-centuries in the format.
Waseem has been a part of the Mumbai Indians franchise in the ILT20. There he has an average of 28 and strike rate of 140, including five fifties.
Logan van Beek could garner some interest in the IPL 2026 auction due to his all-round skill set. He has been a consistent performer for Netherlands over the last few years. A pretty decent pace bowler who can be handy with the bat down the order, van Beek is the player type IPL franchises love to have.
He has picked 31 wickets in the shorter format this year from 20 innings at an economy of 8.41 and strike rate of 14.8. With the bat, he has scored 203 runs at an average of 18 while striking at 116. He has the experience of playing in T20 competitions in England and New Zealand.
The Scotland all-rounder Michael Leask has done well in the shorter format in recent times. During the tri-series against Nepal and Netherlands, he made 125 runs in four innings at an average of 42 while striking 130.
The off-spinner was terrific with the ball, picking up five wickets at an economy of 5.66. More recently, he took 4 for 27 off five overs across two innings in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Region Final.
Leask can bat anywhere in the order and is a quality spinner. IPL franchises like overseas players who bring in a dual skill set.
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