Sanjay Bangar believes a CSK star player could emerge as the biggest bargain of the IPL 2026 auctionbranding him the “steal” of the Abu Dhabi event on December 15. Despite his release from Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the 22-year-old’s death-overs pedigree and early IPL impact have kept him firmly in the spotlight ahead of the mini auction.​

Sanjay Bangar backs CSK star as auction’s hidden gem

In a rapid-fire segment on Star Sports, former India all-rounder and ex-Punjab Kings head coach Bangar singled out Matheesha Pathirana when asked to predict the biggest steal of the IPL 2026 auction. Bangar highlighted the Sri Lankan’s round-arm action, yorker accuracy and change-ups as rare skills that can tilt tight chases, stressing that such variety is difficult to find in a high-pressure, batter-dominated tournament.​

Pathirana’s IPL numbers underline why he is being viewed as a value pick even after an inconsistent 2025 season. He was central to CSK’s 2023 title run, taking 19 wickets in 12 games at an average a shade under 20, operating almost exclusively at the death and often closing out games alongside MS Dhoni. Across his CSK stint, he finished with more than 40 wickets in just over 30 matches, reinforcing his reputation as a specialist closer despite phases of expensive spells.​

CSK’s decision to release Pathirana ahead of the 2026 auction was influenced by fitness concerns and a dip in control, with the franchise management publicly acknowledging that injuries and technical tweaks in his release point had affected his rhythm. Yet several analysts believe this very release could depress his price just enough for a shrewd franchise to snap him up below marquee money, especially with teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants known to be in the market for a death-overs specialist. Bangar himself has hinted that LSG, who moved on from David Miller and are rebalancing their overseas mix, could treat Pathirana as a high-upside investment in the middle bracket.​

Dale Steyn also names cut-price pace weapons to ponder over in IPL 2026 auctions

Bangar is not the only former quick reading a bargain market for fast bowlers at this auction, with Dale Steyn also weighing in on potential steals. In the same Star Sports interaction, the former South Africa spearhead pointed to compatriots Gerald Coetzee and Anrich Nortje as players who could deliver returns well above their likely price tags. Coetzee has already shown glimpses of his value in the IPL with Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titansclaiming 15 wickets in 14 appearances at a strike rate that reflects his ability to strike in short, hostile bursts even if his economy remains a work in progress.​

Nortje, meanwhile, brings a proven IPL body of work with 61 wickets from 48 outings for Delhi Capitals and KKR, built on high pace, hard lengths and powerplay breakthroughs. Injury interruptions and form dips have tempered his aura slightly, but franchises searching for an experienced enforcer who can bowl both with the new ball and at the death are expected to keep a close eye on his price band. With Bangar and Steyn both forecasting value in high-velocity quicks rather than just marquee all-rounders, the IPL 2026 auction narrative is rapidly tilting toward which franchise reads the fast-bowling market smartest rather than merely the loudest.