Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin believes that the overseas players will go at higher prices in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Ravichandran Ashwin predicted that Australian players like Cameron Green and Mitchell Owen will be among the costliest picks.
The 38-year-old added that several franchises will be looking to release a few of their players to secure the much-needed purse to buy an all-rounder like Cameron Green, who didn’t feature in the IPL 2025 due to lower spine injury i.e. stress fracture.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Views On Costliest Buys In Mini-Auction
Speaking on his You Tube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said: “This will be a mini auction where you’ll find it tough to get Indian players. Maybe only few players will come. The costly picks will be overseas players. So, whether a franchise wants to keep or release a big Indian player, it’s a very risky formula. So many Australian players will come in the auction.”
Ashwin further added: “Tim David is obviously with RCB. The way he is playing, he’s batting brilliantly. And then you’ve got Mitchell Owen, he’s in the Punjab Kings, but that was a replacement player only for 2-3 games. And then you’ve got someone like Cameron Green coming into the auction, so they are available and they’ll go at a big price because they are foreign all-rounders.”
Ashwin cited an example of Lucknow Super Giants and claimed that teams would look to secure a purse or around Rs 25-30 crore for the IPL mini auction. He added: “So, you might want to release your purse. And there’s a possibility that someone like LSG could leave someone like Mayank Yadav. I think this mini auction will be a game of Rs 25-30 crore for all teams.”
It is noteworthy to say that Cameron Green was bought by the Mumbai Indians for 17.5 crore at IPL 2023. The Aussie all-rounder was then traded to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024. Meanwhile, Mayank Yadav managed to play just four games in IPL 2025 due to an injury after being retained by LSG for Rs 11 crore.
Ravichandran Ashwin Picks Australia as Favourites for T20 World Cup 2026 lauding IPL stars as well
Ravichandran Ashwin further lauded Australian players like Tim David and Mitchell Owen, picking the Aussies as the favourites for the 2026 T20 World Cup. He further added:
“Looking at Australia’s preparation, it’s frightening. I mean, they’ll be serious contenders coming into the World Cup. South Africa also played exceptionally well. Kwena Maphaka bagged a 4-wicket haul. But looking at Tim David’s form and the way he is being used at No.5 in the power play, Mitchell Owen has come into the Australian team. This Australian team is looking really really strong and dangerous.”
Ashwin’s remarks came after Tim David slammed 83 off 52 balls as Australia beat South Africa by 17 runs in the first T20I of the three-match series in Darwin.
It remains to be seen whether Ashwin’s prediction about the overseas players racking in the money and being the costliest buy comes true as the Australian players are flying high at the moment. The players are in form and it augurs well for Australia not only for IPL 2026 but also the T20 World Cup that happens earlier.
Australia will be strong contenders and tough to beat when the World Cup comes around and it remains to be seen how the mini-auction and everything shapes up as we come closer to it. The IPL is always exciting and the auction plays a huge part in it to be important and engaging. Let us wait and watch how the mini auction whenever it happens shapes up and how things unfold from here.
The IPL mini-auctions will most likely happen in November-December. The dates and venues are not announced yet and we will get to know of it sooner rather than later.
Also Read: IPL 2026: Will Sanju Samson Remain With Rajasthan Royals?