The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction is approaching, and the teams have started to strategise for the event. The franchises are not only keeping a tab on international stars, but also finding local talents in India. Several teams were lauded for scouting the likes of Vipraj Nigam, Vignesh Puthur, Priyansh Arya, and many others during IPL 2025. This time around as well, all eyes will be on the signing of high-potential Indian domestic performers.
The cricketers who rose from the ranks and performed out of their skin in domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), and Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) could grab the attention of the selectors. The State T20 leagues are also considered before inclusion in IPL squads.
Here’s a look at five domestic cricketers likely to be in the highest demand at the IPL 2026 auction.
AUSA-W
144/8
INDA-W
140/8
KNK
128/6
VSS
195/5
BVB
–
ROR
–
AMR
–
TBW
–
SVL
–
KNK
–
PD
136/8
NDS
179/8
WDL
–
EDR
–
SDS
–
NDT
–
NDS
–
WDL
–
CRO
111/4
CYP
134/4
Cyprus beat Croatia by 23 runs
CRO
103/4
CYP
102/8
Croatia beat Cyprus by 6 wickets
CRO
55/2
CYP
–
ZGW
–
ZAS
–
ZAS
–
RJM
–
ZGW
–
ZGA
–
ZAS
–
RJM
–
ZGW
–
ZGA
–
KENT
101/4
DURH
–
SOM
139/2
LAN
–
MID
–
SUSS
120/4
DER
155/4
NOT
–
BB
155/6
NOR
–
GLO
–
LEI
119/4
ESS
–
WOR
161/2
91YC
70/9
BCC
20/0
Bud Cricket Club beat 91 Yards Club by 10 wickets (D/L) method
NAJC
119/10
GUG
121/7
Guwahati Giants beat Nabajyoti Club by 3 wickets
CCC
–
91YC
–
NVR
–
GUG
–
TCC
–
SBSCC
–
NCMI
–
PCR
–
CEC-A
–
RTZ
–
KRMPS
–
GUJCC
–
JOR
47/10
PRK
49/5
Perak beat Johor by 5 wickets
MEL
107/8
PENG
111/4
Penang beat Melaka by 6 wickets
SEL
76/1
KLPR
141/1
Selangor beat Kuala Lumpur by 9 wickets (D/L) method
GBM
–
MGD
–
BNB
–
MYW
–
MWW
96/7
HTW
107/10
Hubli Tigers Women beat Mysore Warriors Women by 11 runs
NPB
196/4
EAE
144/10
NPL Bears beat Eavion Eagles by 52 runs
PAJ
–
PMW
2/0
IRE-W
–
PAK-W
–
WI
–
PAK
–
SLGY
163/6
SLGR
165/5
SLC Greens won by 5 wickets
SLGR
–
SLBL
–
AUS
178/10
SA
161/9
Australia beat South Africa by 17 runs
SOB
–
BIP
–
TRR
–
NOS
–
MAO
–
LOS
–
SBW-W
139/7
BIP-W
77/4
TRW-W
–
NOS-W
–
MOW-W
–
LSW-W
–
SWE
152/7
FRA
153/8
France beat Sweden by 2 wickets
AUST
12/0
NOR
105/10
Prithvi Shaw, a renowned name in Indian cricket, could trigger the bidding war in the IPL 2026 auction. Despite being just 25 years old, the right-handed batter boasts seven years of experience playing in the cash-rich league for the Delhi Capitals (DC). Shaw, however, went through a rough patch last year. He was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy team due to poor fitness and lack of discipline. He then went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, with no franchise showing interest in him.
He last played for Mumbai in the SMAT final against Madhya Pradesh in December 2024. A good domestic season could help Shaw earn an IPL contract again. He has already shown glimpses of form. Playing for the North Mumbai Panthers, he scored 137 runs in five matches of the T20 Mumbai League, striking at an impressive 163.10.
Sairaj Patil is relatively new to domestic cricket, having played only eight List A games and six T20 matches. But he made headlines in the recently concluded T20 Mumbai League with his all-rounder brilliance. The right-hand batter emerged as the third leading run-getter and finished as one of the top 10 wicket-takers.
Playing for the Eagle Thane Strikers, the 28-year-old amassed 233 runs in six innings, averaging 58.25 and a strike rate of 150.32. Sairaj smashed the most number of sixes – 16. He also picked up seven wickets in 15.3 overs and played a crucial role in his side’s semi-final run. His middle-order power-hitting and seam-up bowling earned him the Player of the Tournament award from Rohit Sharma. Seam-bowling all-rounders who can strike big in the middle order are still a rare breed in India, so Sairaj has a great opportunity of getting picked in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction.
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Atit Sheth, who caught attention in the SMAT 2025, had shared a dressing room with India regulars and IPL captains Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson during his Under-19 days. He has been a key player for Baroda in the domestic circuit for nearly a decade but has never landed an IPL contract. Often deployed in the top order, Sheth can also float down the order, which may pique the interest of IPL franchises.
Sheth came to the limelight during the Baroda Premier League 2025, earning the Orange and Purple Caps. Sheth scored 291 runs in 11 matches for Ami Super Avengers, averaging 49.5 and a whopping strike rate of 246.61. With the ball, the 29-year-old took 18 wickets in 23 overs at an average of 11.72, which included a fifer. Earlier in SMAT 2024-25, Sheth accumulated 100 runs in seven innings, averaging 25 and a strike rate of 147.05. The right-arm pacer picked 14 wickets in nine matches, averaging 22.
The 21-year-old Akshat Raghuwanshi smoked 115 off 56 balls against Bundelkhand Bulls in the recent Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025. He finished the season with 239 runs in just four games, striking at an eye-catching 177. The Kolkata Knight Riders star Venkatesh Iyer lauded him heavily despite not topping the MPL batting list.
“At 21, I haven’t seen a more talented player. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Big things are waiting for him in the future,” Venkatesh said about Raghuwanshi.
Sayan Ghosh, the right-arm pacer, was the leading wicket-taker for Bengal in SMAT 2024-25. He picked 13 wickets at an average of 14.07. The most impressive factor was his economy of 6.77. Ghosh also emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the Bengal Pro T20 league 2025, taking 19 wickets in the eight matches. His stunning form in the T20 format will make the IPL scouts keep a tab on his numbers.
The 32-year-old had previously been part of the KKR and Delhi Daredevils (now defunct). He also boasts an interesting record in domestic T20s, having taken 60 scalps in 41 matches, averaging 18.30 and an economy of 7.48. This makes him a good asset for teams seeking an Indian pacer who can bowl across all phases.
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Australia A Women beat India A Women by 4 runs