Ahead of the IPL 2026 mega auction, several former Indian cricketers and IPL stars participated in a mock auction to simulate bidding strategies and squad-building approaches. The exercise produced some eye-catching numbers, with Australia all-rounder Cameron Green emerging as the most expensive pick, fetching a massive ₹30.5 crore in the mock setup.
Green was snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Chennai Super Kings (CSK) followed a more measured approach, prioritising team balance, current form, and long-term squad depth over aggressive bidding.
Former India batter and 2007 T20 World Cup winner Robin Uthappa offered valuable insights into both franchises’ strategies, particularly KKR’s decision to go all-out for Green and CSK’s likely restraint in the real auction.
Uthappa on CSK’s bidding approach
Uthappa said he expected CSK to be interested in a middle-order all-rounder like Green, but not at an exorbitant price.
“I knew CSK would also go after a middle-order all-rounder. I thought they would go somewhere around ₹25–28 crore. Realistically, I think they would go up to around ₹20 crore in the actual auction, because they would want to keep space for other Indian and overseas players as well,” Uthappa said.
He added that while CSK would remain pragmatic during the real auction, the mock auction allowed for more aggressive bidding.
“In the mock auctions, I was ready to go up to ₹35 crore for a player like Green. I think Cameron Green should bat at No. 3 in the order,” he added.
KKR’s strategy and the focus on death bowling
Uthappa, who himself represented KKR for ₹13 crore during the mock auction, explained that Kolkata’s bidding was driven by specific tactical requirements.
“It’s all about planning and keeping things simple. We needed a good death bowler,” he said.
Speaking about the bowling unit, Uthappa backed Matheesha Pathirana, noting that a change of franchise could reignite the Sri Lankan pacer’s form.
“With the kind of coaching staff KKR have, Pathirana can be very effective at the death. He has been a little off-colour recently and has gone back into the auction pool, which I think will make him more motivated to perform. A change of franchise can also help,” he explained.
Uthappa also highlighted the depth and flexibility in KKR’s bowling lineup.
“With Pathirana, Varun Chakravarthy and Vaibhav Arora, if you’re asking who bats in the first XI, it would be Vaibhav Arora. Also, Varun has been working on his batting; he’s not too far away from clearing the ropes either,” he said.