India's star batter Sarfaraz Khan finally found an IPL team in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and was sold for his base price of Rs 75 lakhs in the mini auction, which took place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
CSK buy Sarfaraz Khan for Rs 75 lakhs
Initially, Sarfaraz had gone unsold during the primary rounds of bidding. However, he was brought back into the accelerated round later in the day, where the five-time champions secured his services quickly and efficiently.
Sarfaraz’s selection is a reflection of his sensational recent form, particularly for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). He was a dominant force in the tournament, smashing 329 runs across seven innings at a staggering strike rate of 203.08, a run that included three fifties and his maiden T20 century. His ability to accelerate was highlighted last Sunday when he blasted 64 off just 25 balls, helping Mumbai pull off a historical chase of 235 against Haryana—the highest successful chase in SMAT history.
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The upcoming season marks Sarfaraz's return to the IPL, having last featured for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2022. Throughout his IPL career, he has also represented the Punjab Kings and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Across a total of 50 IPL matches, he has accumulated 585 runs at an average of 22.50 and maintained a strike rate of 130.58.
Prithvi Shaw goes unsold
Both Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw were initially featured in the first set of players at the IPL 2026 Auction, each with a base price of Rs 75 lakhs. However, in the initial rounds, neither cricketer managed to attract any bids from the franchises. Consequently, both players were brought back into the auction pool during the later, accelerated rounds of bidding.
This time, Sarfaraz Khan proved to be lucky. CSK placed the opening and decisive bid for him at his base price. Since no other franchise expressed interest in taking the bid higher, Sarfaraz Khan was quickly sold to CSK for the minimum amount.
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A total of 369 players entered the auction pool in the auction, all hoping to secure one of the 77 available slots across the ten competing franchise squads.
It was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who turned heads with stunning deals embarking on a heavy spending spree. The franchise successfully acquired Australian all-rounder Cameron Green for a massive ₹25.2 crore, a figure that made him one of the most expensive overseas players in IPL auction history. KKR followed this up by securing the services of Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for a whopping sum of ₹18 crore.