Karan Lal - The SMAT breakout RCB and KKR are tracking closely for IPL 2026 mini-auction

Karan Lal makes waves ahead of IPL 2026 auction [Source: @KKR_Xtra/X.com]

Every IPL auction cycle throws up one domestic name that forces scouts to sit up and recheck their notes. Ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, that name is Karan Lal.

He doesn’t come with the noise of a breakout prodigy or the baggage of past IPL seasons. What he brings instead is something franchises value deeply, which is impact in short bursts.

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Karan Lal’s stats in SMAT

(Table: Karan Lal's stats in T20s and SMAT 2025 season)

Playing for Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Karan Lal’s numbers may not place him among the top five run-getters, but context matters. 

Across the seven innings in the ongoing season, he has scored over 219 runs at a strike rate hovering around 195-197, a figure that instantly stands out in any T20 assessment. This isn’t accumulation. This is disruption.

The innings that truly changed his season, and possibly his career trajectory, was the 113 off just 50 balls against Himachal Pradesh. 

Bengal were chasing 209, a total that usually requires two batters batting deep. Lal didn’t need that luxury. He dismantled the attack with clean hitting, allowing Bengal to win with more than an over to spare. 

It was the kind of knock that IPL scouts circle in red. What strengthens Lal’s case further is how he scores his runs. He isn’t built to bat through 20 overs. 

Instead, Karal Lal changes matches in clusters of balls. With 18 fours and 17 sixes this season, his boundary percentage reflects a batter who can flip momentum in five overs, exactly what teams look for at no. 5 or no. 6.

Why is Karan Lal a hot pick for RCB and KKR?

Then there’s the all-round angle. Karan Lal bowls off-spin, offering captains matchup flexibility and teams an extra option when balancing overseas combinations. 

He may not be picked for his bowling alone, but in modern IPL squads, secondary skills often decide auction value.

That value was clearly recognised during RCB trials, where Dinesh Karthik reportedly told Lal, “Very impressive. You are ready for this level.” 

For RCB, they can use him as backup in the lower middle order. A genuine all-rounder who can fill in for Rutherford or Tim David in case they’re unavailable.

For KKR, they need a strong hitter after losing Andre Russell. Karan Lal might not be a like-for-like replacement. But his talent and skill set might be an advantage. When paired with Angkrish, Lal can own death overs and score crucial runs.

Karan Lal set for his maiden IPL contract

At a base price likely around ₹30 lakh, Karan Lal is the kind of player who can quietly rise into the ₹1-2 crore bracket. Not because of hype, but because teams know what such profiles can become in the IPL system.

Karan Lal may not enter the auction as a headline act. But in a mini-auction built around filling specific roles, he looks increasingly like a smart investment, a domestic batting all-rounder ready to make the jump when opportunity knocks.

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