The recently announced squad retention lists have quietly signalled their long-term strategies, which prioritise youth, multi-faceted utility, and budget flexibility over expensive, established star power. This strategic shift leaves several popular and even legendary names vulnerable. While they possess world-class talent, their combination of a high base price, age concerns, or recent patchy form might see them become the unfortunate, high-profile unsold players in IPL 2026 auction.

5 Players Who May Go Unsold in IPL 2026 Auction

It’s the cruel business of T20 cricket, where sentimentality rarely trumps economic and strategic sense. Teams have filled key slots, and the available budget is now highly targeted, creating a perfect storm, especially for at least one major unsold overseas player.

Glenn Maxwel

The Australian superstar, often dubbed ‘The Big Show,’ faces the steepest challenge. Maxwell’s primary hurdle is the sheer volatility of his performances relative to his likely price tag. While capable of turning a game on its head with a lightning-fast hundred, his propensity for prolonged form slumps means he remains an ultra-high-risk investment. The modern T20 lineup demands consistency from its overseas middle-order power hitters, particularly when they command prices north of ₹10 crore. Maxwell’s off-spin is useful but often not enough to justify his price when his batting is unreliable. Teams might conclude that spending a massive chunk of their purse on such an unpredictable asset, given the filled retention slots, is simply too risky for the current auction landscape.

Related Article：Auction Shock Incoming? Glenn Maxwell’s IPL 2026 Team Future Looks Bleak

Update: Glenn Maxwell has confirmed that he will not be participating in this auction.

Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis remains one of the sharpest minds and most elegant openers in T20 cricket, but the arithmetic of the mega-auction cycle may not favour him. At 41 years old (by the time the 2026 season commences), age becomes a serious factor, not just for performance but for long-term strategic investment. Most franchises building a core for a five-year window will look for an opener aged 25–30. Furthermore, the overseas opener position is highly sought after and typically supplied by either retaining a player or by pursuing a player who can play a different role (like captaincy or wicketkeeping). Even though Faf has captaincy experience, teams looking for an opener only might find younger, less expensive, and marginally more explosive choices, making him a probable unsold overseas player.

Update: Faf du Plessis has opted to skip IPL 2026 and will instead focus on the PSL and other T20 leagues.

Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali may become one of the unsold players in IPL 2026 auction despite being a high-utility spin-bowling all-rounder because of his role specialisation. The demand for foreign off-spinners has largely diminished since most teams now favour wrist-spin for wicket-taking penetration or focus on an Indian left-arm spinner for control. Although Moeen’s batting is unquestionably strong, the particulars of the pitch frequently have a significant impact on how productive he is. His batting, while good, frequently lacks the pure death-overs striking power of a Russell or a Stubbs, and his spin can be weak on flat surfaces. Franchises might prefer to spend their money on a pure foreign finisher who doesn’t rely on the pitch or invest in a cheaper, more aggressive domestic spin option. His high salary expectations, combined with the fact that he doesn’t fully solve any single, critical squad problem (he’s not the primary spinner or the primary finisher), make him a difficult proposition for teams with tight purse strings.

Update: Moeen Ali has opted to skip IPL 2026 and will instead focus on the PSL and other T20 leagues.

Mohit Sharma

Although Mohit Sharma’s recent comeback as a death-overs expert was praiseworthy, he competes in a very unstable and youth-oriented sector. For Mohit, who is currently in his mid-30s, the absence of express pace is the main problem. Although his slower balls and variations are world-class, teams are increasingly looking for a left-arm death option who can consistently execute the yorker or a raw pace of 145+ kph. The open positions are usually saved for a younger, high-potential Indian quick or a foreign swift because many teams have kept their young Indian pace battery. While Mohit’s expertise is valuable, teams may decide it would be better to use the money to get a pace if his base price is set high.

Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda is a classic utility player: capable of batting anywhere in the middle order and providing handy off-spin. However, this versatility is currently his undoing. Over the last two seasons, he has lacked the single, defining contribution required to secure a high auction price. He’s neither a guaranteed anchor, nor a reliable finisher, nor a consistent bowling option. Indian batting slots are premium, and teams are now seeking specialists: a pure power finisher or a reliable anchor. Hooda’s lack of a consistent strike rate and his recent struggles with mental blocks make him a high-risk player. If he enters the auction with a base price of ₹4 crore or more (which is likely given his history), teams will pivot to cheaper, younger, and more specialised Indian talent, or save the money to battle for a genuine match-winner.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the 2026 auction is a ruthless economic exercise. These high-profile names, particularly the ageing unsold overseas player candidates like Maxwell and Du Plessis, present an unfavourable risk-to-reward ratio. Their high expectations, coupled with inconsistent form, mean they are serious contenders to become the unfortunate unsold players in IPL 2026 auction as franchises prioritise long-term, specialised, and reliable investments.