A total of 156 players went under the hammer as all 10 IPL franchises participated in the bidding. Teams collectively spent ₹215.45 crore to acquire 77 players, including 48 Indians. Fourteen players from Madhya Pradesh were listed, but only five found takers.
Mangesh Yadav was the standout among first-time entrants. RCB bought the young all-rounder for ₹5.20 crore, making him the most expensive uncapped player from the state this year. Yadav recently featured in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he impressed with a brisk batting cameo and three wickets, drawing attention despite limited appearances.
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Venkatesh Iyer, however, witnessed a significant fall in valuation. RCB picked him up for ₹7 crore, a steep drop from the ₹23.75 crore Kolkata Knight Riders had paid for him in the previous cycle. Iyer endured a modest season last year, scoring 142 runs in 11 matches, which appeared to impact his market demand.
Among others, Akshat Raghuvanshi was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹2.20 crore after a strong showing in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League, where he scored 239 runs, including a century. Fast bowler Kuldeep Sen was picked by Rajasthan Royals at his base price of ₹75 lakh, while all-rounder Shivang Kumar joined Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹30 lakh.
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Several established names from the state, including Kumar Kartikeya and Kulwant Khejroliya, remained unsold, reflecting intense competition and limited slots.
Meanwhile, franchises retained key Madhya Pradesh players ahead of the auction, including Rajat Patidar (RCB), Avesh Khan (Lucknow), and Arshad Khan (Gujarat).
The IPL 2026 season is scheduled to begin on March 26, with the auction underscoring both emerging opportunities and shifting valuations for players from the region.
