![Quinton de Kock [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1765276615810_Quinton_de_kock (3).jpg)
Quinton de Kock [Source: AFP]
The excitement around the Indian Premier League (IPL) is steadily rising as the 2026 player auction is set to take place next week on Tuesday, December 16. Just ahead of this much-awaited event, the IPL has officially released the final list of 350 players who will be part of the auction.
These players were selected from a massive pool of 1390 cricketers who had originally registered, which shows how competitive and selective the process has been this year. What adds more interest is that 35 new players were included in the final list who were not part of the earlier long list, and one of the most notable surprise names among them is South African star Quinton de Kock.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finalised this 350-player list after detailed discussions with all ten IPL franchises. This year, the auction is being held in Abu Dhabi, which makes it a special occasion as the IPL takes its major event outside India. Out of the 350 shortlisted players, 240 are from India, while 110 are overseas players.
With fresh additions to the list, several names are now drawing attention due to their recent performances and the current needs of different teams.
Dunith Wellalage
One such name is Sri Lanka all-rounder Dunith Wellalage. He has registered himself for the auction with a base price of ₹75 lakh.
Even though many teams may not be aggressively chasing him, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are expected to keep a close watch on him. Wellalage has not yet played in the IPL, however, he has gained experience in other popular leagues like the SA20 in South Africa and the Lanka Premier League.
Notably, his main strength lies in his slow left-arm orthodox spin combined with useful batting ability, which makes him a promising all-round option. SRH recently released two of their spinners, Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar, which means they are likely searching for a new spinner to fill that gap. Wellalage fits that requirement perfectly.
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In his short T20I career so far, he has played six matches and taken seven wickets with a decent economy rate of 7.48.
Kusal Perera
Another Sri Lanka player who could be on the radar of several teams is wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Perera. He has entered the auction with a base price of ₹1 crore.
Since he is an overseas wicketkeeper, he instantly becomes a valuable option for teams that have gaps in that department. Perera last appeared in the IPL in 2013 for the Rajasthan Royals, which means it has been over a decade since he played in this league.
However, his recent form in other tournaments shows that he still has a lot to offer. In the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, he scored 170 runs in just four innings at an impressive strike rate of 173.46.
Teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), who have both released their overseas wicketkeepers, may consider him seriously as they look to fill that spot.
Quinton de Kock
Quinton de Kock, one of the biggest names on the list, has also created a buzz. After coming out of retirement from international cricket, he has been in excellent form and even scored a century against India in a recent ODI series.
KKR released him ahead of the 2026 auction after he had an underwhelming season with them, however, his base price of ₹1 crore this time around is much lower than what he was signed for earlier.
Last time, KKR bought him for ₹3.6 crore, so they or another franchise might find it appealing to bring him back at a cheaper price. Notably, De Kock’s IPL experience is remarkable; he has played 115 innings and scored 3309 runs at a strike rate of 134.02, including two hundreds and 24 fifties.
Notably, his ability to open the batting and handle wicketkeeping duties makes him a highly valuable player.
