The IPL 2026 auction has taken an interesting turn after major changes to the player list. The headline that De Kock makes a surprise return as BCCI pruned the auction register has quickly become the talk of cricket fans. With the list now trimmed to 350 players, several unexpected names—especially Quinton de Kock—have brought fresh excitement to the upcoming event.
A Smaller Auction Pool With a Big Surprise
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finalised a trimmed list of 350 players for the IPL 2026 auction after detailed discussions with all franchises. This change means only the most relevant and demanded players will go under the hammer. Once again, the headline De Kock makes a surprise return as BCCI takes center stage, as the South African star was not even part of the original 1,355-player list.
The updated register includes 35 new names, and the most shocking addition is Quinton de Kock. Many fans repeated that De Kock makes a surprise return as BCCI continues to refine the list. De Kock recently came out of retirement and scored a brilliant century against India in Visakhapatnam, making his comeback even more impactful.
His base price for the auction is INR 1 crore—half of the 2 crore base price from the previous mega auction where KKR had picked him. The franchise has released him after an underwhelming season, but now De Kock makes a surprise return as BCCI officially confirmed his name in the third lot for wicketkeeper-batters.
Other new overseas players include several Sri Lankans such as Binura Fernando, Kusal Perera, Dunith Wellalage, and Traveen Mathew. The excitement around the event grows as De Kock makes a surprise return as BCCI prepares for the auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi.
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Auction Format and Accelerated Process
The auction will begin with capped players, divided by roles—batters, all-rounders, wicketkeeper-batters, fast bowlers, and spin bowlers. Cameron Green headlines the first lot, followed by names like Devon Conway and Prithvi Shaw. Even in this format discussion, fans keep noting how De Kock makes a surprise return as BCCI streamlines the process.
After Player No. 70, an accelerated auction will begin, covering all players from 71 to 350. Once again the buzz grows as De Kock makes a surprise return as BCCI introduces updated rules for faster bidding.
The list also features several new Indian players, adding depth to the pool. As the cricket world prepares for a thrilling auction day, the phrase De Kock makes a surprise return as BCCI remains the biggest headline of all—capturing attention, excitement, and anticipation for IPL 2026.
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