IPL 2026 Auction: 3 players who may go unsold again. (Photo Source: IPL/ BCCI)

The much-awaited mini-auction is almost upon us, as franchises are getting ready to build strong squads that can help them go the distance in the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The IPL 2026 mini-auction will be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will enter the auction with the highest purse of INR 64.3 crore. On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians (MI) will carry the lowest purse of INR 2.75 crore, having retained most of their players.

A maximum of 77 slots can be filled at the auction, including 31 reserved for overseas players. According to IPL norms, a team can register a maximum squad size of 25. In this article, CricTracker lists down three such players who can go unsold for a second consecutive year.

Here are 3 players who may go unsold again at IPL Auction 3. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav played for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 and picked up eight wickets in seven matches. He went into the IPL 2025 mega-auction and didn't find any takers. A leg injury had been bothering him during the team, and surgery might have influenced the decisions of the franchises.

Umesh has worked hard on his fitness and bowled at good speeds during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, where he represented his home team Vidarbha. However, the 38-year-old is well past his prime, and T20 wasn't his favourite format anyway. He might not be able to grab the attention of a buyer this time as well.

2. Kyle Mayers Kyle Mayers. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Kyle Mayers had an impressive outing with the bat in IPL 2023, as he scored 379 runs in 13 matches at an average of 29.15 and a strike rate of 144.11 for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). While he was re-signed by LSG ahead of IPL 2024, he spent the entire season on the bench.

In the IPL 2025 mega-auction, he failed to attract bidders. The 33-year-old recently lost his place in the West Indies T20I side after disappointing performances against Nepal in September. It seems highly unlikely that Mayers would find a team at the auction table. However, he can still be a part of IPL 2026 if a team ropes him in as an injury replacement.

1. Steven Smith

Steven Smith was last picked at an IPL auction on February 18, 2021, by the Delhi Capitals. However, he played just eight matches and has not been involved as a player in the league since. Smith was unsold during the IPL 2024 and 2025 auctions. He worked as an expert during the IPL and analysed matches involving his contemporaries.

Smith has registered for the upcoming mini-auction and set his base price at the maximum figure of INR 2 crore. While there is no doubt about the Australian stalwart's batting prowess, teams might not want to acquire the services of an anchor like him and look for more flamboyant players, especially with the kind of belter venues are providing in the IPL in recent seasons.