The IPL 2026 auction will be held on December 16: here are five under-the-radar overseas players who could stir up interest among the teams.
Sediqullah Atal (Afghanistan)
Sediqullah Atal has quickly built a reputation as one of Afghanistan’s most exciting batting prospects, after a prolific run in the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup last year, where he made 368 runs at a strike rate of 147.79, and was the only player to cross 200 in the tournament. He has also produced several standout moments in his T20 career, including hitting 48 runs in an over during the Kabul Premier League, including seven sixes.
Atal hit a hundred in the tournament last year, making 103 off 42 balls in the final. This year, has has played 35 T20s, scoring 1,049 runs at 31.78 with a strike rate of 141.56, including four innings where he has struck over 200, the highlight being a 27-ball 54 at No.3 in the run chase of 171 against Sri Lanka A in the Asia Cup Rising Stars in November. Atal has also played for Delhi Capitals and Dubai Capitals, and also scored a 46-ball 74 for MI Cape Town against Pretoria Capitals in the SA20 earlier this year.
He has been slotted for INR 75 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction.
Tim Robinson (New Zealand)
Tim Robinson broke through in October with a 66-ball 106* against Australia at Mount Maunganui. Filling in for the injured Rachin Ravindra, the 23-year-old found himself out to bat when New Zealand were 6-3. His efforts helped the hosts post 181-6, during which he became the second-youngest male centurion from New Zealand.
Earlier, Robinson had smashed 139 off 64 balls with 10 sixes in the Super Smash, before hitting 86 off 56 against Canterbury, which led to an international call-up. Overall, Robinson has scored two T20 tons in 57 games with a strike rate over 140, and could be an exciting pick for teams looking for aggressive top-order hitters.
He has a base price of INR 75 lakh.
Zak Foulkes (New Zealand)
A tall swing bowler, Zak Foulkes’ breakthrough came during the 2022-23 Super Smash, where he was Canterbury’s highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets at 15.33 and an economy rate of 7.36. The next season, he ended with 14 scalps at 16.28 and ended with a batting strike rate of 150. It helped him earn a maiden T20I cap in 2024, and he has played 17 games since, picking up 18 wickets.
Foulkes made headlines again during his Test debut against Zimbabwe this year: He picked up 9-75 in the game, the best figures for a debutant from New Zealand. Foulkes is not quite in the mould of the more lanky, threatening pacers from New Zealand - think Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke - but certainly could be in high demand.
He has a base price of INR 75 lakh.
Tristan Luus (South Africa)
Picked as an injury replacement in South Africa’s 2024 Under-19 World Cup squad, Tristan Luus picked up seven wickets in five games, including an impressive 3-37 in the semi-final against India, although his efforts went in vain. In the CSA T20 Challenge later that year, the tall and nippy quick, whose bowling action is inspired by Dale Steyn, finished with eight wickets with an economy rate of 7.72.
Luus has played for MI Cape Town and MI New York, for whom he picked up 3-35 in the second qualifier this year, including the wicket of his countryman Faf du Plessis. He was MI Cape Town’s first pick in the SA20 Rookie Draft in October, and it would not be a surprise if they show an interest in him for the IPL as well.
He will fetch a minimum of INR 30 lakh.
Arab Gul (Afghanistan)
The 19-year-old leg-spinner has made the most impact in red-ball cricket, where he has grabbed 57 wickets at 21.49 with three five-fors in 15 games. Picked by Rahmanullah Gurbaz as a “big star” for the future, Arab Gul has also been effective in the shorter formats. In 22 games, he has 29 wickets, but his economy rate of 6.99 stands out.
He has conceded less than six runs an over in 10 T20s, with his best bowling figures - 4-14 and 4-16 - both coming this year. Gul, whose action resembles Rashid Khan’s, has been picked by MI Emirates for the ongoing season of the ILT20. Spinners from Afghanistan have always been favourites of the IPL teams, and Gul can be a wildcard.
He will cost at least INR 40 lakh.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
