Srinagar, Dec 09: Jammu & Kashmir’s pace spearhead Auqib Nabi is poised to take centre stage as eight JKCA players have secured their names in the final list for the IPL 2026 Player Auction to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. The Board of Control for Cricket in India has confirmed the trimmed roster featuring 350 hopefuls vying for a place in the world’s most lucrative T20 league.
Nabi leads the J&K contingent that includes Nasir Muzaffar, Atif Mushtaq, Waseem Khanday, Vivrant Sharma, Abid Mushtaq, Qamran Iqbal and Ashwin Murugan. The 28 year old from Baramulla has been among the brightest performers on India’s domestic circuit with his ability to swing the ball both ways earning him praise from former players and scouts alike.
His 44 wicket haul in the last Ranji Trophy season propelled him into the national spotlight, while his sensational feat of four wickets in four balls in the Duleep Trophy etched his name in the tournament’s record books. A recent trial stint with Mumbai Indians has added further buzz around his prospects as franchises gear up for a fierce bidding war.
This year’s auction sees a heavy Indian presence with 240 local players included out of the nearly 1,390 who originally registered. The tally features 224 uncapped Indian cricketers aiming to break into the elite league. A total of 77 roster spots are up for grabs across 10 franchises at the Etihad Arena, promising an intense battle under the hammer.
Forty players have listed themselves at the highest base price slab of ₹2 crore while 227 cricketers have entered the ₹30 lakh category, underscoring the competition ahead. As J&K continues its rise in the domestic structure, all eyes will be on Nabi and his teammates hoping to convert this opportunity into a breakthrough season in the IPL.
