Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi have raised eyebrows in the cricketing fraternity by listing themselves at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore for the IPL 2026 mini-auction despite coming off disappointing seasons in IPL 2025. Their decision has surprised many because both players were released by their franchises after underwhelming performances and now face an extremely competitive auction environment.
This year’s mini-auction has drawn extraordinary interest, with 1,355 players registering for just 77 vacant spots. The auction pool will be trimmed on December 5, but even before the final list is announced, it is evident that the INR 2 crore bracket will be fiercely contested. A total of 45 players have placed themselves in this top price category, and among them, only two are Indian — Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi. The competition they face includes high-profile overseas names such as Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone and Matheesha Pathirana, making the top-tier pool one of the most stacked in recent years.
The INR 2 crore category typically attracts players who are clear first-XI upgrades or proven match-winners in current form. That expectation puts pressure on Iyer and Bishnoi, neither of whom could produce meaningful impact in their IPL 2025 campaigns. Venkatesh Iyer, who returned to Kolkata Knight Riders at a staggering INR 23.75 crore in the last mega-auction, had a forgettable season. Across 11 matches, he scored just 142 runs at an average of 20.29 and a strike rate of 139.22, registering only one fifty and offering no bowling value. Following that poor outing, KKR decided to release him, and his value has now plummeted from a blockbuster price to the base bracket. Yet, by placing himself at INR 2 crore, Iyer is pushing teams to commit a substantial amount to a player who scored only 142 runs last season and no longer provides all-round utility.
Ravi Bishnoi’s case reflects a similar dip. After being retained for INR 11 crore by Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2025, he endured one of the toughest seasons of his career. In 11 matches, he picked up just nine wickets, averaging 44.56 with an economy rate of 10.84. His role shifted from being a strike bowler to becoming a risk-heavy option in the middle overs. With several promising domestic wrist-spinners entering the auction this year at more modest price points, Bishnoi’s decision to enter the highest bracket forces teams to weigh him as a premium pick rather than a mid-range gamble.
The biggest concern for both players is that entering the top price tier reduces their flexibility. Teams with well-set squads and limited purse amounts may hesitate to spend 2 crore or more on players whose recent form does not reflect that value. The compressed list of 77 slots further tightens the battle, and both Iyer and Bishnoi walk into an auction atmosphere where franchises will be ruthless about cost-to-impact ratios. While their Indian nationality and skill profiles — a left-handed top-order batter and a wrist spinner — still hold inherent value, the base price they have chosen could push some franchises away early in the bidding.
By opting for INR 2 crore after their weakest seasons, Iyer and Bishnoi may have increased their risk of going unsold in the initial rounds, leaving teams to decide whether they truly match the premium tag they have placed on themselves or whether better value exists in the mid-price brackets. Their fate on auction day will reveal whether the gamble was bold confidence or strategic miscalculation.
