Aarya Desai, a 22-year-old left-handed opening batter from Gujarat, is one of the uncapped Indian players drawing interest ahead of the IPL Auction 2026. Born on April 3, 2003, in Surat, Desai has built a strong domestic profile in a short span of time, earning him a place in the auction pool with a base price of Rs 30 lakh.

Desai has already been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders setup earlier, giving him exposure to the IPL environment, though he is yet to make his debut. Known for his fluent stroke play at the top of the order, Desai also bowls right-arm offbreak, adding a secondary skill to his profile.

Domestic Career Highlights

First-Class (FC)
– Matches: 18
– Runs: 1,024
– Average: 34.13
– Strike Rate: 61.35
– Hundreds/Fifties: 2/5
– Highest Score: 200
Desai has shown impressive temperament in the longer format, highlighted by a double century—an indicator of his ability to play long innings.

List A
– Matches: 10
– Runs: 350
– Average: 38.88
– Strike Rate: 98.31
– Hundreds/Fifties: 1/2
His 106 in List A cricket underlines his proficiency in the 50-over format.

T20s
– Matches: 22
– Runs: 648
– Average: 34.10
– Strike Rate: 137.28
– Fifties: 5
In the shortest format, Desai has displayed consistency and acceleration—key attributes for a modern T20 opener.

Why IPL Teams Are Watching Him

– Proven run-scorer across formats
– Strong T20 strike rate (137+)
– Left-hand top-order option—always in demand
– Prior experience in KKR camp
– Secondary off-spin option, even if lightly used

With his solid domestic numbers and rapid improvement as a T20 batter, Aarya Desai stands out as a value pick for teams seeking a young Indian opener with long-term potential.