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"The Costly Picks Will Be...": R Ashwin Shares Bold Predictions For IPL 2026 Mini-Auction

Rajgeeta Yadav

R Ashwin Predicts Surprise Player to Be Most Expensive Signing Ahead of Mini-Auction [Source: AFP]R Ashwin Predicts Surprise Player to Be Most Expensive Signing Ahead of Mini-Auction [Source: AFP]

Former India spinner and Chennai Super Kings star Ravichandran Ashwin has given his thoughts on the upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction. Ashwin believes that overseas players, especially Australian all-rounders, will dominate the bidding wars. 

He explained that franchises rarely release big Indian players during mini-auctions, which makes it difficult for teams to find top Indian talent. As a result, he feels that the costliest picks this year will mostly be foreigners.

"This will be a mini auction where you'll find it tough to get Indian players. Maybe only new players will come. The costly picks will be overseas players," Ashwin said, speaking on his YouTube channel 'Ash ki Baat'.


"A franchise releasing a big Indian player is a very risky formula. So many Australian players will come in the auction," Ashwin stated.

Ashwin Reveals Which Players Could Break Records In IPL 2026 Auction

Ashwin named two Australians in particular, Cameron Green and Mitchell Owen, who he thinks could attract huge bids. Green, a proven all-rounder, and Owen, who briefly played for Punjab Kings, are likely to be in high demand. 

"You've got Mitchell Owen, who was a replacement player for three games for Punjab Kings. Then you've got someone like Cameron Green coming into the auction. They'll go at a big price because they are foreign all-rounders," Ashwin elaborated.

Even before the mini-auction, the IPL trade window has been making headlines. Reports suggest that Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson could be on the move, with Chennai Super Kings showing strong interest in signing him as a long-term replacement for MS Dhoni. 

However, with Samson’s current valuation at ₹18 crore, striking a deal has proven tricky. Around the same time, speculation also arose about Ashwin possibly leaving CSK, sparking talk of a potential swap between Samson and Ashwin. Ashwin himself dismissed the likelihood of such a trade, pointing out that his contract is worth far less than Samson’s.

As for Ashwin, his own future remains uncertain. He was bought by CSK for ₹9.75 crore but had a disappointing season, managing only seven wickets in nine matches. With the trade window still open, there remains a possibility that Ashwin himself could be part of the player shuffle before the 2026 mini-auction.