Top Five rising Indian youngsters set to be hot picks in IPL 2026 Auction as franchises track emerging domestic talent.
Every season, the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction throws the spotlight on the young Indian players, who have been making an impact in the domestic circuit. It will remain the same when the IPL 2026 auction takes place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, with 350 players set to go under the hammer. All the teams aim to fill the gaps at the mini auction.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will need a veteran middle-order batter who can offer them a few overs with the ball. They will also require an India spinner, after Ravindra Jadeja’s trade to the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Meanwhile, the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), will be eager to sign Yash Dayal’s back-up.
The Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will also keep an eye on the spin department. On the other hand, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) need an India opener and the replacement of Andre Russell, who recently announced his retirement from the league.
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Let’s take a look at the top five young Indian players who could be on the radar of franchises in IPL 2026 auction:
Tushar Raheja (Tamil Nadu)
In the past couple of seasons of the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), Tushar Raheja has been dominating the bowlers, including Varun Chakravarthy and Ravichandran Ashwin. Apart from opening the batting, he can also keep wickets, which makes him an exciting package, especially in T20s.
In the TNPL circle, he earned the title ‘Rocket Raheja’ for his wide variety of shots. The 24-year-old finished the TNPL 2025 as the leading run-getter with 488 runs in nine innings. He scored those runs at a strike rate of 185.55 with five half-centuries and the best score of 80.
In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26, Raheja has bagged 151 runs at a strike rate of 164.13. Kolkata Knight Riders can keep an eye on the Southpaw during the IPL auction 2026.
Yash Punja (Karnataka)
The 19-year-old Karnataka spinner, Yash Punja, is yet to play any competitive cricket. But the young leg-spinner’s journey has been around Rashid Khan, Ian Bishop, and UAE’s cricket set-up.
In 2025, Punja finished the Maharaja KSCA T20 Trophy as the second-highest wicket-taker. In his very first season of the competition, Punja collected 23 wickets in 10 innings at an average of 12.48 and an economy rate of 7.45.
Being 6ft 6 inches, he can use the bounce of the surface to create trouble for the batters. Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians can be interested in signing the former Rajasthan spinner. The Royals themselves can bid for the youngster.
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Ashok Sharma (Rajasthan)
Rajasthan’s Ashok Sharma has the skill of bowling at 140s, as he marked a special transformation over the past two seasons. The seam bowler can operate at different phases of the game.
He finished the group stage of the SMAT 2025-26 as the leading wicket-taker. Ashok has claimed 20 wickets in seven games at an average of 14.80 and an economy rate of just under nine, i.e 8.92. In successive clashes against Uttarakhand and Saurashtra, he picked up four-wicket hauls.
In the past, he was a part of the squads at the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals. But he is yet to play a game in the IPL. This time, the moment can finally arrive for the seamer. Along with these two sides, Royal Challengers Bengaluru can also look at him as Dayal’s potential backup.
Prashant Veer (Uttar Pradesh)
The 20-year-old spin all-rounder, Prashant Veer, was first identified in the UP T20 league, where he represented the Noida Super Kings. In the ongoing SMAT, he displayed his power-hitting along with a few overs in the middle. That has already attracted the CSK side to take a look at him in trials as they aim to find the successor to Ravindra Jadeja.
Veer ended the season with 112 runs at a strike rate of 167.16, alongside picking nine wickets at a superb economy rate of 6.45. At the Jadavpur University Ground in Kolkata, he notched up a fine knock of an unbeaten 40 runs against Bihar, which showcased his variety of shots. If things fall in place, Veer may need to spend a lot of time in Chennai during the March-April period.
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Raj Limbani (Baroda)
During last year’s U-19 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Raj Limbani impressed with his skill of swinging the new ball. His in-swinging deliveries reminded one of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the early years. Even on the flattest surfaces at Willowmoore Park in Benoni, he made the ball talk.
The 20-year-old has picked up 16 wickets in 10 T20 innings at an average of 17.25. His strike rate of 11.6 suggests how consistent he has been with his performance. Against Gujarat, he returned with a magical figure of 3-5 to bundle out the opposition for just 73.
Apart from these five players, the eyes will also be on Auqib Nabi. The Jammu and Kashmir pacer, who was a net bowler for SRH and KKR, ended the SMAT 2025-26 season with 15 wickets at an economy rate of 7.41. Saurashtra’s Krains Fuletra, the left-arm wrist spinner, is also an exciting prospect. He can find himself in the SRH squad as the back-up option.
As the IPL 2026 auction approaches, the franchises will be eager to uncover the next breakout Indian talent capable of shaping their future. With several young prospects already making compelling cases, December 16 promises a thrilling battle of scouting, strategy and bold investments.
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