IPL 2026: Analysing the wish list of all ten franchises ahead of mini auction

Wish list of all IPL teams [Source: @iplt20.com]

The last few months have all been about the controversies in the Asia Cup and the upcoming India tour of Australia, but a couple of months later, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction will take place as all ten sides will aim to strengthen their squad by purchasing players who will enter the auction pool.

The franchises have already started strategizing about their moves in the mini auction, and in this article, we examine the wishlists of every IPL team, as well as one area where they would love to invest (be it the opening, middle order, or bowling department).

1) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (middle-order batter)

The defending IPL champions, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, have a strong squad heading into the next IPL season. However, the team has one particular area where they would love to invest, and that is in a solid middle-order batter to replace Liam Livingstone.

(Livingstone in IPL 2025)

The all-rounder was purchased for 8.75 crore, and there were high hopes with him. However, the performances turned out to be average. In 10 matches, he could only score 112 runs with a strike rate of 133. The team certainly needs a solid middle-order player, who could score quick runs, and could also chip in with a couple of overs.

2) Mumbai Indians (need of a finisher)

At the height of their power, the Mumbai Indians had Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya as their two finishers. However, with Pollard leaving MI and Hardik’s finishing ability diminishing, the team certainly needs a finisher.

Last season, Mumbai groomed Robin Minz as the finisher of the team, but he failed to deliver the goods, and hence, the side certainly needs a hard-hitting finisher to help MI score quick runs.

3) Chennai Super Kings (pacer needed)

Last season, Matheesha Pathirana had an average season for CSK, and Khaleel Ahmed was the only fast bowler who did wonders for them as the side heavily relied on its spinners to deliver the goods. Hence, the side needs a solid pacer who could take wickets with a better economy.

(Pathirana in IPL 2025)

• Pathirana struggled for lines and lengths, and despite getting wickets in double digits, he leaked runs for fun as he conceded them at 10.14 runs per over. CSK certainly needs someone to support Khaleel Ahmed, who was the lone warrior in IPL 2025.

4) Kolkata Knight Riders (solid opener)

KKR made plenty of blunders in the mega auction last year when they released the core of the team, including their opener, Phil Salt. The result was that during the IPL 2025 season, KKR tried plethora of opening combinations, but none of them worked as the team failed to reach the playoff stage.

While they can also go in with a solid finisher to replace Russell, but the need of the hour is to strengthen the opening slot before filling in the other loopholes.

5) Delhi Capitals (Opener)

Just like the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Delhi Capitals also need an opener to replace the struggling Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk.

(Du Plessis, Fraser-McGurk in IPL 2025)

• Both Fraser-McGurk and du Plessis struggled for runs as DC had to heavily rely on their middle-order batters to score runs and win matches. Hence, they need a solid opener to replace the two underperformers.

6) Punjab Kings (pacer to support Arshdeep)

The finalists of the IPL 2025 season, the Punjab Kings, had an exceptional season with the bat, but they underperformed with the ball as there was no support for Arshdeep Singh. While their batters clicked and scored a plethora of runs, the bowlers had a decent season, as the team desperately needs a quick bowler to help Arshdeep.

7) Rajasthan Royals (finisher to replace Hetymyer)

Rajasthan Royals have several loopholes before the start of the next season, but the team has to rectify their finishing loophole and for that, they need to replace Shimron Hetmyer.

(Hetmyer in IPL 2025)

• While the numbers state that Hetmyer had a decent season in terms of strike rate, his inability to finish matches cost RR a playoff berth. There were numerous matches where he failed to deliver the goods, as RR lost matches from a winning position.

8) Lucknow Super Giants (foreign pacer)

The LSG team had a decent batting unit in IPL 2025, but they lacked a solid foreign pacer to lead the team. While the Indian core pacers were mostly injured, the team hardly invested in a quality foreign bowler, and that inexperience in the side hampered their campaign.

Hence, the side should go in for an overseas pace bowling option to support the inexperienced Indian pace bowling core.

9) Gujarat Titans (middle order batter)

With Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler forming a deadly top three, GT lacks a solid middle-order batter after them. They have tried Sherfane Rutherford and Karim Jannat in that position, but none of them looked promising, as the lack of a proper middle-order batter was one of the main reasons why GT got eliminated in the Eliminator.

10) Sunrisers Hyderabad (fast bowler)

With Pat Cummins being the only decent pacer in the side, SRH certainly needs someone to support him. Even when SRH pile more than 250 runs on the board, there is a fear that they might lose the game, and it is solely due to their average pace attack.

Hence, in the mini auction, SRH should target a solid pacer who can take wickets and support captain, Pat Cummins.

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