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NextGen stars: Decoding youngest IPL 2026 players who can ignite fierce bidding war

Sakshi Sharma

RS Ambrish in India U19 (Source:@thegoatrachin,x.com)RS Ambrish in India U19 (Source:@thegoatrachin,x.com)

The excitement around the IPL 2026 mini-auction is already building after the league released a list of 359 players set to go under the hammer on Tuesday, December 16. The registrations include 16 capped Indian players and 96 capped overseas players, 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players

Among these, a few teenagers have caught the attention of fans and scouts. Here's a detailed look at the three youngest players in the auction pool and the teams that could target them.

1. Wahidullah Zadran (Afghanistan) – 18 years

Criteria
Data
Series Name (AFG U-19 vs BAN U-19) Innings
4
Wickets
11
Economy
3.35

(Wahidullah Zadran's recent stats)

Afghanistan’s Wahidullah Zadran, born on 15 November 2007, is the youngest player registered for the IPL 2026 mini-auction. A specialist off-break bowler, Zadran represents the Afghanistan U-19 side.

In the recent Afghanistan U-19 vs Bangladesh U-19 series, he bagged 11 wickets in four innings at a economy of 3.35. Across his T20 career so far, he has played 19 matches, taking 28 wickets at an impressive economy of 6.72. For the auction, Zadran has listed his base price at ₹30 lakh. 

Teams that may target Wahidullah Zadran

  • SRH - The 'Orange Army' has released Adam Zampa, Rahul Chahar leaving their bowling attack, especially the spin department empty. With the team needing at least two fresh spinners, Wahidullah Zadran becomes a low-cost, high-potential option.
  • GT - Gujarat has always maintained a strong link with Afghanistan with Rashid Khan link. This connection can help Wahidullah Zadran as well. If GT acquires his services he could be a useful bowler alongside Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, and Washington Sundar, giving GT depth and variety in the spin unit.

2. RS Ambrish (India) – 18 years

RS Ambrish has emerged as one of the most promising young Indian talents in the upcoming auction. The 18-year-old has already played for the India U-19 team. Ambrish has made his Ranji Trophy debut for Tamil Nadu. In first-class cricket he has played two matches and made 43 runs at an average of 21.50 and strike-rate of 43.43.

Teams that may target RS Ambrish

  • CSK - The 'Yellow Army' has preferred players from Tamil Nadu, valuing the local connection. With ₹43.4 crore purse, the franchise has enough room to invest in young long-term prospects. Ambrish fits perfectly into CSK’s philosophy of grooming Indian talent. 
  • KKR - The 2024 IPL champions, enter the auction with the largest purse. They may aim to strengthen their bench by adding young, flexible Indian players.

3. Sahil Parakh (India) – 18 years

Sahil Parakh is another exciting 18-year-old in the auction pool. He attracted attention during the Youth ODI Series vs Australia, where he made unbeaten 109 runs. He recently made his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy debut for Maharashtra and was also the captain of the Maharashtra U-19 side in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2025. 

Teams that may target Sahil Parakh

  • MI - The team has only ₹2.75 crore left in their purse, meaning they are likely to rely heavily on base-price signings. Parakh, being a local Maharashtra player, becomes an ideal fit.
  • DC- With Jake Fraser-McGurk released and Faf du Plessis pulling out of IPL, DC will need a top-order option. Parakh could serve as a promising bench option who can be developed into a reliable performer.