'Phenomenal, unprecedented, unimaginable' - Arun Singh Dhumal, Anant Ambani 'very happy' as uncapped players rule the roost at IPL 2026 auction

The IPL 2026 auction proved to be a rewarding experience for emerging youngsters who have been performing well at the domestic level. The event in Abu Dhabi on December 16 saw several uncapped players being sold to the participating franchises for hefty amounts.

IPL chairperson Arun Singh Dhumal expressed confidence that the likes of Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma getting duly rewarded for their performances in domestic cricket will serve as an immense source of motivation.

"Whatever we were wanting to achieve with this auction, we have got it. The kind of reward that Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma got is phenomenal, unimaginable, unprecedented. Going forward, it will give a lot of motivation to all the youngsters," stated Dhumal, as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Chennai Super Kings' Stephen Fleming opened up on how his perception of 20-over cricket being an experienced cricketer's game and the factors which bring in success for teams have changed over time.

"I just wonder if we are now seeing the true product of T20 cricket coming to the fore. It certainly started last year, maybe even the year before. Earlier, my view was that experience would win. But now you're seeing fearless athletes who've grown up on T20 cricket and possess a skill set that is mouth-watering," added Fleming.

Mumbai Indians' owner Mukesh Ambani was chuffed for the uncapped players who ended up with multi-crore deals. He also underscored how demand and supply governs the manner in which franchises approach uncapped players during the auction. 

"Genuinely very, very happy for the uncapped players. They should remember that the auction is a place of demand and supply and not wear the price on their head because it's about when your name comes up and what slots teams are looking to fill. From that perspective, I really wish them all the best. They are extremely talented players, all of the ones that went above generally average prices of uncapped players over the years. It's just demand and supply, and the timing and situation of the auction," noted Ambani.

Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma headlined the auction for the uncapped lot, getting sold to CSK for INR 14.2 crore. Jammu & Kashmir quick Auqib Nabi was acquired by Delhi Capitals for INR 8.4 crore. There were a whole lot of players who were added by the franchises to their respective setups on the back of impressive outings in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.