With the IPL 2026 auction approaching, franchises will once again turn to the domestic circuit in search of value picks beyond the marquee names. A strong 2024-25 season across domestic competitions, including Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and state T20 leagues, has pushed several uncapped players into the spotlight, with consistent returns, specific skill sets and favourable T20 profiles catching the attention of scouts. From new-ball pacers and left-arm options to power-hitting wicketkeepers and flexible all-rounders, here is a look at the group of uncapped players who could generate interest at the IPL 2026 auction.

Auqib Nabi

Age: 29

Role: Bowler, right-arm fast, new-ball bowler

From: Jammu and Kashmir

Auqib Nabi, the 29-year-old right-arm swing bowler from Jammu & Kashmir, has emerged as one of India's most consistent domestic pacers. In the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, he's taken 29 wickets in five matches at an average of 13.27, including a best haul of 7/24, and was the second-highest wicket-taker among all bowlers early in the season. His ability to move the ball both ways and bowl with precision - coupled with multiple five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket, including four in four balls in the Duleep Trophy, and 15 wickets in seven matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy - has caught IPL scouts' attention. Nabi's accuracy and knack for early strikes make him a potential powerplay specialist and useful domestic pace option for IPL teams.

Ashok Sharma

Age: 23

Role: Bowler, right-arm fast

From: Rajasthan

Ashok Sharma has been one of the breakthrough fast-bowling stories of the domestic season. The 23-year-old right-arm pacer from Rajasthan has topped the wickets chart in the ongoing 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, having bagged 20 wickets so far in 8 matches, including best figures of 4/16. He consistently clocks deliveries above 140 km/h and has impressed with his ability to strike, earning trials with multiple IPL franchises. Once a net bowler with Rajasthan Royals, he was later part of the squad in IPL 2025 but didn't get a game. He also didn't get a game when he was with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023. But his career curve has moved up steadily, evidenced by his SMAT performance, and teams are likely to bid aggressively for the promising pacer.

Kartik Sharma

Age: 19

Role: Wicketkeeper batter, right-handed bat, middle order

From: Rajasthan

A young batter from Rajasthan, 19-year-old Kartik Sharma is another player to watch out for among the uncapped named in the IPL 2026 auction. With a century on debut in the Ranji Trophy against Uttarakhand, Kartik stormed into the scheme of things for Rajasthan and has since been a consistent performer for the team. He was Rajasthan's highest run-getter in the previous edition of Vijay Hazare Trophy with 445 runs in eight innings, striking at 118.03. A middle-order batter who has played regularly at No.4 for Rajasthan, he has 334 runs so far in 11 innings across two seasons of SMAT, striking at 162.92. He had also impressed in a stint in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 in 2024, scoring 457 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 168.01.

Tushar Raheja

Age: 24 years

Role: Wicketkeeper, Left-handed batter, opener

From: Tamil Nadu

A hard-hitting wicketkeeper who bats at the top of the order, Tushar Raheja made a name for himself with his performances in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. Having featured in the league since 2018, his breakout year came in 2024, when he amassed 324 runs across nine matches before making his Tamil Nadu debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Raheja raised the bar in TNPL 2025, scoring 488 runs at an average of 61 and a strike rate of 185.55, including a Player of the Match 77 in the final. With IPL trials already behind him, and the ability to provide explosive starts from the top while keeping wickets, he is a player likely to stir a buzz at the auction.

Abhishek Pathak

Age: 28

Role: Wicketkeeper batter, right-handed bat, opener

From: Madhya Pradesh

Abhishek Pathak is a name increasingly mentioned in domestic T20 contexts, thanks to his striking ability in state leagues. In the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025, Pathak posted a strike rate of close to 250, ranking among the standout batters for his rapid scoring. He scored 266 runs in 6 innings, including a hundred and a fifty. A wicket-keeper batter who opens for Madhya Pradesh, the 28-year old hasn't yet taken off in the ongoing SMAT. But teams will show interest considering his multiple skillset.

Mangesh Yadav

Age: 23

Role: Allrounder, left-handed bat, left-arm fast

From: Madhya Pradesh

Mangesh Yadav, a 23-year-old left-handed all-rounder, has been making the right noises. In the Madhya Pradesh Premier League 2025, he claimed 14 wickets with his left-arm pace in 6 matches at an average of 12, including three four-wicket hauls. Left-arm variation is always valuable in T20s, and Yadav, despite not making the state team yet, could find some takers.

Naman Tiwari

Age: 20

Role: Bowler, left-arm fast, new ball bowler

From: Uttar Pradesh

A speedster from Lucknow, Naman Tiwari was drawn to fast bowling from his teenage years. He rose through age-group cricket, representing Uttar Pradesh at Under-16 and Under-19 level before featuring for India at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup. The left-arm pacer enjoyed a breakout UPT20 season this year, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker with nineteen wickets from ten matches. Capable of touching 140 kmph, Tiwari has spoken openly about his ambition to become the fastest bowler in the world. With Indian left-arm pace at a premium, his combination of speed, age and recent T20 returns makes him a profile that franchises tend to back aggressively. Exposure to an IPL setup as a net bowler with Rajasthan Royals only strengthens that case.

Prashant Veer

Age: 20

Role: All-rounder, left-handed bat, slow left-arm, lower-middle order striker

From: Uttar Pradesh

An economical left-arm spinner who can also contribute reliably in the middle order, Prashant Veer is a promising all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh. He enjoyed a strong UPT20 season this year, scoring 320 runs and picking up eight wickets across 10 matches. The standout feature of his batting was the tempo. He struck at 155.34 in the UPT20 and followed that up with 112 runs in five Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy innings at a strike rate of 169.69. Comfortable scoring all around the ground off a stable base, Veer offers flexibility through the middle overs. With his ability to strike big with the bat while offering control with the ball, Veer fits the kind of flexible squad role franchises look to fill at the auction. Having already attended IPL trials, he is a name teams are likely to keep an eye on.

Salman Nizar

Age: 28

Role: Left-handed batter, off-break, destructive finisher

From: Kerala

Salman Nizar has enjoyed a standout year. It began with the Ranji Trophy, where he scored 628 runs in Kerala's run to the final. Later, he grabbed headlines in the Kerala Cricket League after hitting 11 sixes across two overs, finishing the tournament with an average of 98.67 and a strike rate of 193.46. Having made his first-class debut as a 17-year-old in 2015, Nizar has spent nearly a decade in the domestic grind. While his returns in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy were modest, that is unlikely to deter bidders given the clean ball-striking and power he has showcased over the past year.

Yash Raj Punja

Age: 19

Role: Bowler, leg-break

From: Karnataka

A tall and lanky leg-spinner, Yash Raj Punja was serving as a net bowler for the Rajasthan Royals in 2024 when he caught the attention of Ian Bishop. "He is at least 6 feet 6 inches tall," estimated Bishop as he shared a couple of photos with the youngster in a Tweet. Since then, Yash has had a stellar Maharaja Trophy playing for the Hubli Tigers, ending as the second-highest wicket-taker with 23 wickets from just 10 games at an average of 12.48. Part of the first set of uncapped spinners at the auction, his attributes and recent returns are likely to put him on franchise radars.

Other notable players to watch out for

Macneil Noronha (spin-bowling allrounder), Money Grewal (fast bowler), Arpit Rana (spin-bowling allrounder), Prithviraj Yarra (fast bowler), Akhil Scaria (pace-bowling allrounder), Raj Limbani (fast bowler), Sunny Sandhu (fast-bowling allrounder).