R Ashwin predicts these 2 Australian all-rounders can become costliest buys of IPL 2026 mini-auction, says 'releasing a big Indian player is a risky formula'

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R Ashwin predicts these 2 Australian all-rounders can become costliest buys of IPL 2026 mini-auction, says 'releasing a big Indian player is a risky formula'
CSK's R Ashwin reacts during IPL 2025; Australia's Mitchell Owen and Cameron Green during their partnership against West Indies.

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R Ashwin feels that a franchise will decide against releasing a big Indian player.

Ashwin feels Australian players will get a hefty price tag in the mini-auction.

Cameron Green has been in fabulous form this year.

Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has predicted the biggest buys of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction. Ashwin feels that a franchise is unlikely to take the risk of releasing a big name into the auction. He backs the Australian players to get big paychecks as franchises look to bolster their squad.

"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 Hindi 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 reckons Australian all-rounders Mitchell Owen and Cameron Green can start in a bidding war in the mini-auction. Owen was roped in as replacement of Glenn Maxwell by Punjab Kings (PBKS) whereas Green missed the season as he was recovering from a back surgery and did not want to risk getting injured ahead of World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final.

"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.

 

 

"The mini-auction will be a game of Rs 25-30 crore for all teams," Ashwin explained.

 

 

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Owen and Green’s IPL and T20I numbers

Owen departed for a duck on his IPL debut but he proved his mettle in the Major League Cricket (MLC) for Washington Freedom. The 23-year-old earned a place in the Australian T20I squad. From six games, he has scored 127 runs from five innings at an average of 31.75 and strike rate of 184.05. He has a T20I fifty to his name as well. With the ball, he has two wickets at an average of 23.

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Meanwhile, Green's T20I comeback has been impressive. He has scored 240 runs from six innings at an average of 60 and strike rate of 173.91. He has three T20I half-century this year. The 26-year-old was named 'Player of the series' against West Indies.

Green has played for Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL. In his debut season, he scored 452 runs from 16 innings at an average of 50.22, including a century and two fifties. For RCB, he did not score a fifty but amassed 255 runs from 12 innings at an average of 31.87.