Aquib Nabi Dar and Prashant Veer Shine in IPL 2026 Auction
Aquib Nabi Dar Secures Major Deal
In a remarkable turn of events, Jammu and Kashmir's pace sensation Aquib Nabi Dar was acquired by Delhi Capitals (DC) for an impressive Rs 8.40 crores during the IPL 2026 auction held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh's spin bowling all-rounder Prashant Veer made headlines by becoming the most expensive uncapped Indian player in the tournament's history.
Surprising Developments in the IPL Auction
The IPL auction for 2026 was filled with unexpected twists. Aquib, a 29-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir, has been making waves in domestic cricket with his exceptional pace bowling skills. His successful bid marked his entry into the world's premier cricket league. On the other hand, Prashant Veer was picked by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a staggering Rs 14.20 crores, potentially stepping into the role of Ravindra Jadeja, a key player for the franchise.
Aquib Nabi Dar's Impressive Stats
The bidding for Aquib began with DC, and soon Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) joined the competition. As the bid surpassed Rs 1 crore, RR withdrew, leaving DC and RCB to continue the bidding, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) also entering the mix. Ultimately, DC secured Aquib for Rs 8.40 crores. In the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he has taken 15 wickets at an average of 13.26, including a four-wicket haul. Across 34 T20 matches, he has claimed 43 wickets at an average of 21.81, with two four-wicket hauls. In the Ranji Trophy, he has achieved 29 wickets in five matches at an average of 13.27, featuring a four-wicket haul and three five-wicket hauls, with his best figures being 7/24 against Rajasthan. Aquib, hailing from Baramullah, is recognized as a skilled new-ball bowler who has also improved his performance with the older ball.
Prashant Veer's Historic Bid
Prashant Veer, an all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, attracted significant attention during the auction, leading to a fierce bidding war among Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, CSK, RR, and SRH. Ultimately, CSK emerged victorious, securing him for Rs 14.20 crores. Veer has been a standout performer for UP in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 112 runs in six innings with an average exceeding 37 and a strike rate above 170, with a top score of 40*. He also took nine wickets in seven matches at an average of around 18.
Uncapped Players Face Mixed Outcomes
Several uncapped batters, including Gujarat's Aarya Desai, Delhi's Yash Dhull, Karnataka's Abhinav Manohar, Punjab's Anmolpreet Singh, Vidarbha's Atharva Taide, and Goa's Abhinav Tejrana, went unsold. Among the all-rounders, Vijay Shankar, Tanush Kotia, India's U19 World Cup star Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mahipal Lomror, Eden Apple Tom, and Punjab's hard-hitter Sanvir Singh also remained unsold. Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Shivang was picked up by SRH for his base price of Rs 30 lakhs.