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IPL 2025 photoshoot - (Source: IPL)
IPL 2026 mini-auction is less than a month away, and with 77 slots available, all ten teams will be looking to pick the right stars to replace their weak links. KKR will enter the tournament with the highest purse, while MI only have 2.75 crores. However, every franchise is dealing with a concern that it would look to rectify in the auction.
Thus, this article will shed light on key concerns for every IPL team ahead of the IPL 2026 auction
Chennai Super Kings
- Purse remaining: 43.4 cr
- Slots remaining: 9
- Overseas slots: 4
For CSK, they have two key areas of concern.
Weak Lower-middle-order
The Men in Yellow have a solid top-order line-up after Sanju Samson trade, but the five-time winners have a weak lower-middle order.
Notably, there is no reliable batter after Shivam Dube as Ravindra Jadeja too have moved to Rajasthan Royals. Further, MS Dhoni is no longer the same, which is why CSK need to go after strong finishers during the auction.
Weak Pace attack
Chennai have also undergone a major overhaul in their bowling line-up as they released Matheesha Pathirana and need to bring in genuine wicket-taking seamers for IPL 2026.
Further, R Ashwin has retired, while Jadeja has left, creating two vacant spots in the spin department. Thus, the Men in Yellow require a spinner as well for the next edition.
2. Delhi Capitals
- Purse remaining: 21.8 cr
- Slots remaining: 8
- Overseas slots: 4
Lack of experienced talents
For Delhi Capitals, they let go of their underperforming openers - Faf Du Plessis and Jake Fraser McGurk, leaving a void at the top or middle-order, in case Abhishek Porel and KL Rahul are pushed to open the innings.
For the Capitals, they have a great Indian core, but cannot rely on the likes of Porel, Vipraj Nigam, Ashutosh Sharma, and Sameer Rizvi for the entire season. Thus, the DC squad lacks experience and need to bring in a few top overseas talents to look strong on paper.
3. Kolkata Knight Riders
- Purse remaining: 64.3cr
- Slots remaining: 13
- Overseas slots: 06
- Indian slots: 07
Opening slot
KKR have released most of their squad for the next season after an underwhelming show in IPL 2025. The first and foremost key concern for the Knight Riders is to bring in two quality openers, as they have none after Gurbaz and de Kock's release.
Seamers crisis
Further, KKR need to bring in a good captaincy candidate during the IPL 2026 auction and not repeat the mistake made in the last mega-auction. The three-time winners also have to target a quality overseas seamer to complete their squad and contest for the title in the 2026 season.
The Knight Riders released Anrich Nortje, don't have Andre Russel and cannot rely on Vaibhav Arora and Umran Malik to do the job for them.
4. Royal Challengers Bengaluru
- Purse remaining: 16.4 Crores
- Slots remaining: 8
- Overseas slots: 02
- Indian slots: 07
Back-up seamer
RCB have one of the most stable squads going into IPL 2026, and there isn't a lot to be changed there. However, if there is one area that RCB can look after, it is to add a seamer to the team.
Hazlewood is injury-prone, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar isn't getting younger as either. Further, Yash Dayal is dealing with his own set of troubles, and amid this, the management should go after a genuine wicket-taker to help the cause in case of a crisis.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Purse remaining: 25.5 Crores
- Slots remaining: 10
- Overseas slots: 02
Lower-middle-order
SRH have their top-order sorted, but have an equally vulnerable middle-order. Aniket Verma is likely to bat at no. 6 or no. 7 for the Men in Orange, but beyond that, SRH lack a genuine finisher at No. 8, and it is a concern.
The one-time winners don't have Abhinav Manohar, Wiaan Mulder and need a proper batter in that place.
A top-spinner
Further, SRH have a problem in the spin department as they have let go of Rahul Chahar and Adam Zampa. Thus, SRH need to target a quality spinner. They only have Zeeshan Ansari, who lacks experience and would bloom under the guidance of an experienced player.
6. Lucknow Super Giants
- Purse remaining: 22.95 cr Crores
- Slots remaining: 7
- Overseas slots: 4
Middle order and seam department
For LSG, they have just seven slots remaining to fill and similar to other teams, LSG also need to work on their lower-middle-order and bowling department.
LSG let go of David Miller and beyond Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni, the Sanjiv-Goenka-led side have no quality batter whom they can rely on in the lower-middle order to get the job done for them.
Even in the bowling department, LSG have let go of Ravi Bishnoi and Akash Deep and would definitely go for a back-up spinner to Digvesh Rathi and quality seamers, which they lacked last season.
7. Gujarat Titans
- Purse remaining: 12.9 cr Crores
- Slots remaining: 6
- Overseas slots: 5
Weak Middle-order
Gujarat Titans have made little tweaks to their squad, and letting go of Sherfane Rutherford was the biggest of them all. Even in IPL 2025, GT had a weak middle-order, and now, with Rutherford gone, the Titans have to seriously work on their middle-order slots.
GT have Rahul Tewatia who isn't contributing and Washington Sundar who can't play aggressive cricket.
8. Punjab Kings
- Purse remaining: 11.50 crores
- Slots remaining: 4
- Overseas slots: 2
Maxwell and Inglis's replacements
For the Punjab Kings also deal with a similar issue as the Gujarat Titans. With just a purse value of 11.50 crores, the Shreyas Iyer-led side is likely to target middle-order batters after Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis' release.
PBKS reached the final of IPL 2025, and Inglis have a big role in that. Thus, PBKS need to find two good replacements for their star players.
9. Rajasthan Royals
- Purse remaining: 16.05 cr Crores
- Slots remaining: 9
- Overseas slots: 1
Struggling pace department
For the Rajasthan Royals, their weakness is the bowling department. RR released Matheesha Pathirana and Wanindu Hasaranga. Further, Akash Madhwal is not there, leaving them without any quality seamers.
Also, the key challenge for the Rajasthan Royals is that they have just one overseas slot left for IPL 2026.
10. Mumbai Indians
- Purse remaining: 2.75 crores
- Slots remaining: 5
- Overseas slots: 1
An explosive batter in the middle
Mumbai Indians are the only team in IPL 2026 without any significant concern, as they have all their bases covered. However, if there is one place that MI might target, it is to rope in a player like Tim Seifert, who can be explosive in the middle order.
Mumbai Indians have just one overseas slot available and can go after a young talent as the five-time winners are known for their scoutings.
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